Senate committee approves judiciary biennium budget with added legal services funding

The Senate Committee on Judiciary on March 20 voted to pass HB 400, the judiciary’s biennium budget bill, with amendments adding dedicated funding for civil legal services and immigration-related legal assistance.

Brandon Kimura, director of the Judiciary’s Policy and Planning Department, told the committee the judiciary requested operating funds of $6,170,000 for fiscal 2026 and about $6.25 million for fiscal 2027, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, an operating increase of less than 3% compared with FY 2025, and $11.9 million for capital improvements. "We respectfully request the judiciary's budget remain intact, as a base," Kimura said, adding the requests are meant to "maintain and enhance our critical services" and to restore functionality lost when positions were previously defunded.

The committee amended HB 400 to add a $1,000,000 placeholder in the committee report for civil legal services and $750,000 for legal services in immigration-related proceedings. The committee report language also notes concern about federal changes that could increase demand for immigration-related services and the potential downstream cost to Hawaii families and businesses. The committee adopted the measure with those amendments; the committee announced the vote in open session. Chair Rhodes and Vice Chair Gabbard recorded aye votes; Senator Chang was excused. The committee report also set a revised effective date in the bill's language as recorded by the committee.

Why it matters: The judiciary’s operating and capital requests fund court operations statewide and pay for staff and positions the courts say they need to handle caseloads and post-pandemic operational shifts. The added committee-directed funding for civil legal services and immigration-related representation directs money to organizations that represent low-income residents and people in immigration proceedings.

Who testified: Kimura testified for the judiciary alongside administrative court staff; local legal service organizations and advocates testified in support, saying demand for civil legal assistance has risen and that those programs are important to low-income and immigrant communities. David Copper, executive director of Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, thanked the committee and expressed support for the judiciary’s general budget priorities and the civil legal services line item. Liza Rangel, a board member speaking on behalf of The Legal Clinic, described a potential rise in people needing representation and urged support for staffing to meet the demand.

What the committee adopted: The committee's motion was to pass HB 400 with amendments; the committee inserted funding placeholders in the committee report for civil legal services ($1,000,000) and immigration-related legal assistance ($750,000). The committee recorded aye votes from the chairs and adopted the measure.

Background and next steps: HB 400 is the judiciary’s biennium operating and capital budget request and will proceed in the legislative process with the committee’s recommendations recorded in the committee report. The amendments adopted on the floor of the committee are reflected in the committee report; final funding and language will be subject to the full Legislature’s budget negotiations.