Hawaii House receives governor—s budget message, adopts multiple committee reports and passes senate bills by voice vote

The Hawaii House of Representatives met and received Governor—s Message No. 9, which transmits proposed changes to the biennium 2025—2027 executive budget, and then moved to adopt a series of standing committee reports and advance senate bills by voice vote.

Clerk: "We're in receipt of governor's message number 9, transmitting proposed changes to the biennium 2025 2027 executive budget. May this matter be received in file," the clerk told the chamber when the message was read into the record.

Why it matters: The transmission of changes to the executive budget formally places the governor—s amendments on the legislative record and signals the start of further committee and floor consideration. The actions taken on committee reports and senate bills during the session moved multiple measures forward in the legislative process.

House actions and outcomes - The House adopted standing committee report numbers HSCR 1716 through HSCR 1719 on a voice vote; the motion to adopt was moved by Representative Todd and seconded by Representative Morikawa. Several companion measures were taken up in tandem as noted by the chair.

- The chamber moved to adopt standing committee reports HSCR 1720 through HSCR 1728 and to pass the accompanying senate bills as amended to second reading and place them on the calendar for third reading. Representative Todd moved the motion and Representative Morikawa seconded.

- Members voted to suspend the rules to consider certain senate bills for third reading on the consent calendar. The motion to suspend the rules was moved by Representative Morikawa and seconded by Representative Garcia; the motion carried by voice vote.

- The House adopted standing committee report HSCR 1736 and recorded that the accompanying senate bill passed third reading. Representative Todd moved adoption; Representative Morikawa seconded. On that measure, the chair called for a roll-type affirmation and the clerk recorded that majority and minority members both registered aye for the measure before the chamber and the bill passed third reading.

- The chamber also moved that a senate bill listed on the calendar (identified in the transcript as SB 1291 SD1) pass third reading. Representative Todd moved the motion and Representative Morikawa seconded; the clerk recorded that majority and minority members voted aye and the measure passed third reading.

Procedural notes and member reservations Voice votes carried several motions. Where recorded, members registered reservations or "no vote" on particular committee reports (for example, Representatives Matsumoto and Shimizu asked that their reservations be noted during the adoption of specific standing committee reports). The record shows multiple instances where members stated "no vote" or asked to be listed with reservations; the transcript does not list individual roll-call tallies for the voice votes.

Other items on the floor - The chamber recognized guests in the gallery, including representatives of Hawaiian Airlines and Portugal's Ambassador to the United States, Francisco Duarte Lopes. Representative Kila and Representative Souza introduced those visitors.

- Representative Matsumoto introduced and moved to adopt House Resolution 215 honoring Mililani High School championship teams and the Mililani marching band; Representative LaChica seconded. The resolution was adopted by voice vote and the House recessed so members could meet the honorees.

- Representative Iguomodo announced observances and events in the community, noting that the day was Transgender Day of Visibility and referencing local events.

What the record does not specify The transcript records motions, voice votes and several members asking that reservations be entered, but it does not provide numerical roll-call tallies for the voice votes. Where the clerk recorded that "all majority members vote aye" and "all minority members vote aye" for a specific measure, the transcript does not attach a numeric count to those statements in the text provided.

Next steps Measures placed on the calendar for third reading and those adopted for third reading in this session will proceed according to the House—s calendar and next-day scheduling. The governor—s budget message was received into the record for further committee consideration.