House adopts broad slate of committee reports, advances several Senate bills to third reading

The Hawaii House of Representatives on March 27 adopted a large set of standing committee reports by voice vote and advanced several Senate bills to third reading, House leaders said during a day of routine and contested business.

House Majority Leader Representative Justin Todd moved to “adopt standing committee report numbers 1564 through 1628,” and Representative Lauren Morikawa seconded the motion; the clerk recorded the motion and the chair announced the reports were adopted by voice vote. Representative Todd later moved to adopt additional blocks of committee reports—including numbers 1629 through 1654 and 1655 through 1658—and to place accompanying Senate bills on the calendar for third reading; each motion was seconded and carried by voice vote or consent.

A separate motion to suspend the rules so the House could consider specified Senate bills for third reading by consent was moved by Representative Morikawa and seconded by Representative Garcia; the motion carried by voice vote. Later, Representative Todd moved to adopt standing committee report numbers 1659 through 1661 and to pass the accompanying Senate bills on third reading; Representative Morikawa seconded the motion and the chair announced the bills passed third reading.

Not all measures were uncontroversial. Several committee reports prompted members to register reservations, opposition, or ask for comments before the voice votes. For example, Representative Shimizu voiced reservations about bills that she said would establish monetary values for past actions and about items she argued were better left to counties. Representative Garcia and other minority members sometimes recorded formal opposition or listed members who voted no on particular measures when the House moved to recorded statements on the floor.

Where a roll-call style accounting was given, the House reported the following on-the-record: on motions to consider measures before the chamber, “all majority members vote aye,” and Minority Leader Representative Garcia announced that minority members largely voted aye with named exceptions on specific items (she listed representatives who voted no on certain measures). In most other cases the chair announced the motion carried following the chamber’s voice vote.

The House took the following procedural steps during the session:

- Adopted numerous standing committee reports (blocks cited on the floor, including 1564–1628; 1629–1654; 1655–1658; 1659–1661). Motions were made and seconded on the floor; outcomes were announced as carried by voice vote or consent. - Suspended the rules to consider certain Senate bills for third reading by consent after a successful motion to suspend. - Passed specific Senate bills on third reading under the consent calendar after the House adopted the related committee reports.

The chamber recessed periodically during the session and concluded by adopting final blocks of committee reports. The House adjourned, setting its next meeting for 12:00 noon the following day.

Votes at a glance (procedural actions announced on the floor): - Motion to adopt standing committee report numbers 1564–1628: moved by Representative Justin Todd; seconded by Representative Lauren Morikawa; outcome: adopted (voice vote). - Motion to adopt standing committee report numbers 1629–1654: moved by Representative Justin Todd; seconded by Representative Lauren Morikawa; outcome: adopted (voice vote). - Motion to adopt standing committee report numbers 1655–1658 and place companion Senate bills on the calendar for third reading: moved by Representative Justin Todd; seconded by Representative Morikawa; outcome: adopted (voice vote). - Motion to suspend the rules to consider certain Senate bills for third reading by consent: moved by Representative Morikawa; seconded by Representative Garcia; outcome: adopted (voice vote). - Motion to adopt standing committee report numbers 1659–1661 and pass the accompanying Senate bills on third reading: moved by Representative Justin Todd; seconded by Representative Morikawa; outcome: adopted (chair announced bills passed third reading).

Why it matters: Adopting committee reports and moving bills to third reading are routine but decisive steps in the legislative process; they determine which measures move closer to final passage. Although most actions were handled by voice vote, several items drew substantive floor comments and recorded reservations from members, signaling continued debate in committee or on future floor calendars.

The chair closed the session after announcing the motions were carried and set the next legislative session for noon the following day.