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HB 2273

MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Nadine Nakamura

Hawaii emergency bill appropriates unspecified funds for public employee compensation costs, bypassing standard budget review procedures via expedited legislative process.

The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
#bu-14 #emergencyappropriations($) #publicemploymentcostitems
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Bill Summary · HB 2273

Legislative bill overview

HB 2273 is an emergency appropriations bill from Hawaii that allocates funds specifically for public employment cost items. The bill was introduced by Representative Nadine Nakamura and is currently in committee review, scheduled for a hearing before the Labor and Benefits (LAB) committee in February 2026.

Why is this important

Emergency appropriations bills bypass normal budgeting procedures and directly allocate taxpayer funds, making them significant for state finances and employee compensation. Public employment cost items typically cover salaries, benefits, or other compensation for government workers, affecting both the state budget and the livelihood of public sector employees.

Potential points of contention

  • Lack of transparency: The bill summary provides no specific dollar amounts, affected departments, or detailed justification, making it difficult for legislators and the public to evaluate whether the spending is truly necessary
  • "Emergency" designation abuse: Emergency appropriations can circumvent standard fiscal review processes; stakeholders may question whether this truly qualifies as an emergency versus routine budget planning
  • Fiscal impact unknown: Without knowing the appropriation amount, there's uncertainty about how this affects the overall state budget, potential deficits, or competing priorities for limited resources

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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