SB 375 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Summary

Establishes and appropriates moneys for a Select Commission on Government Restructuring within the Office of the Governor. Requires interim reports and a final report to the Legislature. Dissolves the Commission on 12/31/2027. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB375 → SB375_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill establishes a Select Commission on Government Restructuring to examine how funding and duties should be shared between the State of Hawaii and its counties, specifically in education, health, and public safety. The commission will be funded by the State and is tasked with providing recommendations to improve government efficiency and service delivery.

Scope change

The bill's scope is narrowed by removing the explicit mention of 'redefine the roles' of counties, focusing instead on the allocation and sharing of existing funding and duties. Additionally, the commission's membership was altered by replacing the Director of Public Safety with the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

REQUIREMENT

The commission's membership was changed to include the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation instead of the Director of Public Safety.

The description of the commission's purpose was slightly refined to focus on the 'allocation and sharing' of duties rather than 'redefining roles'.

TIMELINE

The bill's effective date was moved from July 1, 2025, to January 1, 2525, which appears to be a significant clerical error or placeholder.

FISCAL

The provision regarding the expiration of unspent funds was modified to clarify that appropriations do not lapse at the end of the fiscal year, but only if unencumbered by June 30, 2027.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 185) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to GVO, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

4 primary · 2 co-sponsors