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2018 Hawaii legislative session
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| 2018 legislative sessions coverage |
|---|
| Hawaii State Legislature | |
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| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| Session start: | January 17, 2018 |
| Session end: | May 3, 2018 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Ronald Kouchi (D) |
| House Speaker: | Scott Saiki (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Senate: Jamie Kalani English (D) House: Della Au Belatti (D) |
| Minority Leader: | House: Andria P. Tupola (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 25 (Senate), 51 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (House) |
| Authority: | Article III of the Hawaii Constitution |
| Salary: | $60,180/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Redistricting: | Hawaii Reapportionment Commission has control |
During 2018, Ballotpedia tracked notable stories from the Hawaii State Legislature. The timeline on this page shows the major events that we tracked during 2018, including events in the regular session and in any special sessions that occurred after the regular session adjourned.
If you know of any additional events that should be added to this page, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Overview
In 2018, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 17, 2018, through May 3, 2018.
Article III of the Hawaii Constitution establishes when the Legislature is to be in session. Section 10 of Article III states that the Legislature shall convene in regular session on the third Wednesday in January of every year. Regular sessions are limited to sixty legislative days, but they can be extended by fifteen days by the Governor of Hawaii or by the request of two-thirds of each legislative house. Section 10 mandates that the Legislature take a mandatory recess of at least five days during each regular session.
Partisan control
Hawaii was one of eight Democratic state government trifectas in 2018. A state government trifecta occurs when one political party holds the governor's office, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state House. For more information about state government trifectas, click here.
The following tables show the partisan breakdown of the Hawaii State Legislature at the end of the 2018 legislative session.
Senate
| Party | As of July 2018 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 24 | |
| Republican Party | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 1 | |
| Total | 25 | |
House
| Party | As of July 2018 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 46 | |
| Republican Party | 5 | |
| Independent | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 51 | |
Leadership in 2018
Senate
|
House
|
Regular session
Status of legislation at the end of the regular session
This table details the status of legislation covered on this page at the end of the regular session.
| Status of legislation at the end of the 2018 regular session | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Legislation | Subject area | Actions during the regular session | Status at the end of the regular session |
| SB 2046 | Bump stock ban | Passed legislature |
Governor signed |
| HB 2182 | Create a task force aiming to make the state carbon neutral by 2045 | Passed legislature | Governor signed |
| HB 1986 | Create a carbon-offset program | Passed legislature | Governor signed |
| HB 1900 | Supplemental budget | Passed legislature | Governor signed |
April 25, 2018
State Legislature approves bump stock ban
The Hawaii State Legislature approved Senate Bill 2046, which would prohibit the manufacture, sale, transfer, and possession of bump stocks and similar devices. The bump stock, which allows semi-automatic firearms to fire similarly to automatic weapons, was linked with the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas.
The Hawaii Rifle Association, a National Rifle Association affiliate, opposed the bill. President Harvey Gerwig wrote in testimony that the bill was vague, overreaching, and would "turn an innocent gun owner into a felon." According to the Honolulu Civil Beat, the bill did not receive much other opposition.[1] Read more here.
- Update: Gov. David Ige (D) signed SB 2046 on July 9, 2018.
May 8, 2018
Legislature approves two bills aiming to make the state carbon neutral by 2045
The Hawaii State Legislature passed HB 2182 and HB 1986. HB 2182 would create a task force that would have until 2023 to establish a plan aiming to make Hawaii carbon neutral by 2045. HB 1986 would create a carbon-offset program aiming to assist the task force in meeting its target. According to The Guardian, a carbon-offset program allows individuals or groups (companies, states) to invest in environmental projects globally in an effort to balance out their carbon footprints. Carbon-offset programs could involve investing in renewable or clean energy technology or planting trees.[2][3]
- Update: Gov. David Ige (D) signed both bills on June 4, 2018.
Budget
2018
Gov. David Ige (D) signed a $14.4 billion supplemental budget on June 22, 2018. The plan passed the Hawaii State Legislature on April 25, 2018. The legislation included the following provisions:
- $2.3 billion for capital improvement projects.
- $28 million to fund a state contract with Kaiser Permanente's Maui Health System, specifically for the Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital, and Lanai Community Hospital.
- $15 million for homeless services.
- $1.2 million for the Kupuna Caregiver Fund, which provides aid to residents who work full-time and care for ill or disabled relatives.[4][5]
Process
- See also: Hawaii state budget and finances
Hawaii on 
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Hawaii operates on a biennial budget cycle, with each biennium beginning on July 1. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[6]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies between July and August of the year preceding the start of the new biennium.
- State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor by September.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in December.
- In April or May, the legislature adopts the budget. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
Hawaii is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[6][7]
The governor is statutorily and constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature. Though the legislature is not required to pass a balanced budget, the budget must be balanced for the governor to sign it into law.[6]
Noteworthy events
Sexual misconduct in the state capitol
- State Rep. Joseph Souki (D): Souki announced he would resign from office on March 21, 2018, due to sexual harassment allegations against him. An investigation by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission found that Souki sexually harassed multiple women through unwanted touching, kissing, and sexual remarks. It also found that he likely violated the state's Fair Treatment Law, which says lawmakers cannot use their position to obtain benefits or subject others to unfavorable treatment. In a settlement agreement, Souki said he would resign by March 31, pay a $5,000 fine, and not seek election for two years. According to the agreement, Souki admitted that he "touched and kissed more than one woman in ways that were inappropriate and unwelcome."[8]
Legislatively referred constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods by which the Hawaii Constitution can be amended:
The Hawaii Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution— a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. Hawaii requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
Legislature
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session or a simple majority vote in two successive legislative sessions for the Hawaii State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 35 votes in the Hawaii House of Representatives and 17 votes in the Hawaii State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Convention
According to Section 2 of Article XVII of the Hawaii Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot after a period of nine years. Hawaii is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
The table below shows the last and next constitutional convention question election years:
| State | Interval | Last question on the ballot | Next question on the ballot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 10 years | 2018 | 2028 |
See also
| Elections | Hawaii State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Honolulu Civil Beat, "Bump Stock Ban Passes Hawaii Legislature In Wake Of Las Vegas Massacre," April 25, 2018
- ↑ Route Fifty, "Hawaii to Become Carbon Neutral by 2045," May 9, 2018
- ↑ The Guardian, "A complete guide to carbon offsetting," September 16, 2011
- ↑ The Maui News, "House, Senate OK state budget," April 26, 2018
- ↑ Governor.Hawaii.gov, "Governor Ige signs supplemental budget," June 22, 2018
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
- ↑ ABC News, "Hawaii lawmaker is latest to resign after misconduct probe," March 21, 2018
