Speaker gains interim powers

Summary#

HR-215 is a Hawaii House resolution, not a bill that amends an existing statute. It authorizes the Speaker to carry out official House business between the 2026 and 2027 regular sessions, through January 20, 2027; its stated purpose is to complete the work of the 2026 Legislature.

  • The Speaker may spend money from funds already appropriated for legislative and other expenses of the 2026 Legislature. The resolution gives no dollar amount.
  • The Speaker may hire or contract for personnel and assistance, assign House employees or officers to additional work, and approve hiring before the 2027 session, including each person’s employment period.
  • The Speaker may establish or approve standing, interim, select, investigative, and special committees; authorize meetings and hearings; set their membership, functions, and duties; and limit how many House members participate.
  • Committees may issue subpoenas as allowed by law or House rules. The Speaker must approve committee-related spending in writing before it is paid or incurred.
  • The Speaker may require periodic committee reports as the Speaker chooses. A full report on committee activities, findings, and recommendations must go to the Legislature within ten days after the 2027 session convenes.
  • The Speaker may approve the House Journal for any legislative day being compiled as of the 58th session day. These powers add to other authorizations already granted to the Speaker or other House officers.

What it means for you#

  • House employees and people hired for interim work: The Speaker may assign some House employees or officers additional work and approve hiring for work before the 2027 session. The resolution does not set staffing numbers or pay rates.
  • House members and committees: The Speaker may set committee membership and limit how many House members take part. The resolution allows committee hearings and subpoenas, subject to existing law or House rules.
  • Residents and taxpayers: The resolution does not create a direct benefit, tax, fee, or fine for the public. It does allow spending from existing legislative appropriations.
  • The Legislature: It must receive committee reports within ten days after the 2027 regular session begins. The resolution does not say those reports must be made public.

Money#

The resolution allows spending from existing appropriations but gives no cost estimate.

  • It authorizes the Speaker to spend funds appropriated for legislative and other expenses of the 2026 Legislature; it does not specify an additional appropriation.
  • It allows the hiring or contracting of personnel and assistance, but gives no estimate of staffing costs, committee expenses, or total spending.

What is unclear#

  • The resolution does not set a spending limit beyond referring to funds already appropriated.
  • It does not define what counts as “any official legislative business.”
  • It does not set detailed hiring rules, committee procedures, or a process for reviewing the Speaker’s decisions.
  • It does not say whether committee reports will be available to the public.
  • It does not specify how this authority interacts with the other authorizations it says are already in place.

Case for#

  • The resolution appears intended to let the House finish work after the regular session ends, rather than requiring all work to wait until the next session.
  • Giving the Speaker authority over staffing, committees, and spending could allow the House to organize interim work under one office.
  • Committee hearings and subpoenas, when allowed by law or House rules, could help committees gather information.
  • The required report to the Legislature after the 2027 session convenes creates a way to account for committee activity.

Case against#

  • The resolution gives the Speaker broad discretion over interim staffing, committee membership, committee duties, and spending.
  • The Speaker may limit how many House members participate on a committee, and the resolution does not set criteria for that decision.
  • The resolution does not set a spending cap or require periodic reports to the Legislature during the interim.
  • It does not explain how the public can access committee reports or assess interim spending.