Senate president empowered to continue interim operations

Summary#

SR-193 is a Hawaii Senate resolution titled “Regarding Completion Of The Work Of The Thirty-third Legislature, Regular Session Of 2026, Subsequent To Adjournment Thereof.” It authorizes the Senate President to take specified steps and other steps the President considers necessary to continue Senate business after adjournment, through January 20, 2027. Its stated goal is completing the Legislature’s work; it does not set out a new public program or change public eligibility rules.

  • The President may spend sums already appropriated to the Legislature for legislative-related or other expenses.
  • The President may contract for, hire, or employ personnel, assistance, and services, and set each person’s employment period.
  • The President may approve Senate Journals being compiled as of the 60th legislative day and convene committees authorized by law or Senate rules.
  • The President may take other actions considered reasonable and necessary for efficient Senate operations, and perform other duties to complete the Legislature’s work during the interim.
  • The Vice President is authorized to carry out responsibilities listed in Senate Rule 4. The rule’s contents are not included in the available material.

What it means for you#

  • The public: This is mainly about Senate operations between regular sessions. It does not directly change public rights, benefits, taxes, or fees.
  • Senate staff and service providers: The President may hire or contract for personnel, assistance, and services, but the resolution does not require particular hires or contracts.
  • People affected by Senate committee work: The President may convene committees authorized by law or Senate rules. The resolution does not set a schedule or require a particular committee to meet.
  • Legislators: The resolution gives the President authority to continue official Senate business during the interim, up to and including January 20, 2027.

Money#

No cost information is in the available material.

  • The President is authorized to spend amounts already appropriated to the Legislature, but the resolution gives no dollar amount and does not state a new appropriation.
  • The resolution permits hiring and contracts but does not estimate their costs or specify how many people or services may be involved.

What is unclear#

  • How much money was appropriated to the Legislature, and how much may be used under this authorization.
  • What Senate Rule 4 requires the Vice President to do.
  • What limits or review apply to the President’s spending, hiring, and contracting decisions.
  • What “other expenses,” “reasonable and necessary” actions, and “other duties” cover in practice.
  • The resolution authorizes committee meetings but does not specify which committees will meet or when.

Case for#

  • The resolution appears intended to let the Senate finish its work after adjournment and handle official business before the next regular session.
  • Allowing the President to hire help, approve the Journal, and convene authorized committees could support continuity of Senate operations during that period.
  • The authority ends on a stated date, January 20, 2027.

Case against#

  • The President receives broad discretion over spending, staffing, and other actions, while the resolution does not explain what limits or review apply.
  • It authorizes spending and hiring without stating an amount, staffing plan, or expected cost.
  • The resolution leaves important terms and the scope of “other duties” unclear, making it hard to know what activity the authorization might cover.