STATE BUDGET

Hawaii operates on a biennial budget cycle, with each biennium beginning on July 1. State agencies submit their budget requests to the Governor by September, who submits a proposed budget to the state legislature in December.  The legislature adopts the budget around April or May.   The Governor is required to submit a balanced budget.  The legislature is not required to pass a balanced budget, but the budget the Governor signs into law must be balanced.

STATE LEGISLATURE

The state has 25 state Senators who serve four year terms, and 51 members of the House of Representatives, who serve two year terms.  The state Legislature convenes 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.  Bills carry over from odd to even numbered years.

KEY RESOURCES

• Hawaii State Legislature
• Hawaii Office of the Attorney General
• Governor of Hawaii
• Information on Healthcare Policy in Hawaii
• Hawaii Health Data Center

2025 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY

Hawaii introduced several bills that will roll over into the next year. HB11, HB1104 and SB1423 would eliminate Certificate of Need requirements for several types of healthcare facilities or health care facilities operated by the state’s Department of Health. HB1490 and SB1179 would require the state’s Health Authority to develop a comprehensive universal single healthcare payer system. SB348 would establish a Pre-Merger Notification requirement, and SB953 would establish the Hospital Price Transparency Act, which would prohibit hospitals from taking debt collection actions against patients.