We Advocate for Open Government
We Advocate for Open Government
Public First testimony to the Legislature and other forums is available here.
Clarifies that members of the public may sue a board or alleged board after receiving an adverse Office of Information Practices decision, and that the decision will be reviewed de novo. Establishes a two-year statute of limitations to bring the lawsuit and reaffirms a complainant’s right to seek review by the Office of Information Practices first. Recognizes that only a member of the public may recover attorney’s fees and costs if that person prevails in an open meetings lawsuit. Requires that persons suing for open meetings law violations notify the Office of Information Practices about the lawsuit so that it may decide whether to intervene. Requires open meetings lawsuits that seek to void a board’s final action to be prioritized by the courts. (SD1)
Requires boards to make available for public inspection board packets, if created, at the time the board packet is distributed to board members but no later than two business days before the board meeting. Carves out an exception by allowing public testimony to be distributed to board members within two business days before the board meeting. Requires boards to include in the notice to persons requesting notification of meetings, a list of the documents that were compiled by the board and distributed to board members before a board meeting for use at the meeting. Requires boards to post board packets on its website. Takes effect 7/1/2491. (SD1)
Requires public meeting notices to inform members of the public how to provide remote oral testimony in a manner that allows the testifier, upon request, to be visible to board members and other meeting participants. Recognizes a board’s authority to remove and block individuals who disrupt meetings. Takes effect 7/1/2491. (SD1)
Requires boards to schedule a meeting for deliberation and decision-making on a report by an investigative group at least six business days after the board meeting in which the investigative group presented the findings and recommendations of its investigation to the board. Takes effect 7/1/2491. (SD1)
Imposes a cap on costs charged to reproduce certain government records. Waives reproduction costs charged for the first one hundred pages if disclosure serves the public interest. Waives costs charged to duplicate certain government records in an electronic format. Imposes a cap on costs charged to search for, review, and segregate records. Provides for a waiver of fees when a record’s disclosure serves the public interest.
Prohibits, in certain circumstances, the publication of the personal information of federal and state judges and other judicial staff whose duties put them at risk for acts of violence or threats. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Establishes accessibility standards for the distribution of public documents and media presentations by boards as defined in section 92-2, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded. Makes an appropriation.
Establishes the Criminal Justice Data Sharing and Research Group to consolidate the efforts of the Criminal Justice Data Sharing Working Group and the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission. (SD1)
Repeals the requirement that a board file a copy of the notice of any regular, special, emergency, rescheduled meeting, or any executive meeting when anticipated in advance, with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor or appropriate county clerk’s office. Repeals the requirement that the Office of the Lieutenant Governor or appropriate county clerk’s office timely post paper or electronic copies in a central location in a public building. (HD1)
Removes the ability of the Governor or a mayor to suspend electronic media transmission during a state of emergency or local state of emergency, respectively. (CD1)
Excludes critical infrastructure information from disclosure requirements under the Uniform Information Practices Act. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
Authorizes two or more members of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority to meet during its transition period regarding any matter relating to the Authority’s business; provided that no commitment to vote is made or sought and no decision-making action is taken. Clarifies that the Authority has state sovereign immunity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Defines “community outreach board” to mean a board established to serve in a community advisory capacity under a county department. Includes community outreach boards under existing provisions of the Sunshine Law regarding neighborhood boards. Authorizes neighborhood board or community outreach board members to attend meetings or presentations related to official board business statewide. Takes effect 7/1/2112. (SD1)
Requires boards to use interactive conference technology to remotely conduct public meetings in conjunction with in-person meetings that allow for public participation. Requires boards to archive minutes of meetings on their websites.
Imposes a cap on costs charged to reproduce certain government records. Waives reproduction costs charged for the first one hundred pages if disclosure serves the public interest. Waives costs charged to duplicate certain government records in an electronic format. Imposes a cap on costs charged to search for, review, and segregate records. Provides for a waiver of fees when a record’s disclosure serves the public interest.
Provides that supplemental information received within 48 hours of a meeting of a board subject to state opening meetings law may be added to the board packet; provided that the public is promptly provided access to the supplemental information.
Establishes a continuous Legislature. Requires the Legislature to convene at least once a month. Removes language regarding special sessions, adjournment, and recesses. Creates a two-year deadline for a bill to be submitted for gubernatorial consideration. Standardizes the number of days that the Governor must approve or veto a bill submitted for consideration. Requires the passage of the legislative budget within 45 days before the end of each fiscal year. Makes members of the Legislature subject to the sunshine law. Prohibits members of the Legislature from having employment other than their work as members of the Legislature.
Required that heads of agencies that require board appointments be made through a publicly established process and timeline. Requires that a vote by a public agency board to hire an officer or employee be conducted in an open meeting.
Requires a board to offer remote testifiers an option to be seen and heard by the board and the public when offering remote testimony. Authorizes a board to remove or block any persons who intentionally disrupt or compromise the conduct of a meeting.
Require the third meeting of a board to deliberate and act on a matter investigated by a group of its members to be held at least six days after the second meeting. Takes effect 4/14/2112. (SD2)
Requires boards to make available for public inspection board packets, if created, at the time the board packet is distributed to the board members but no later than two business days before the meeting. Carves out an exception by allowing public testimony to be distributed to board members within two business days before the meeting.
Updates the enforcement mechanisms for the Uniform Information Practices Act and the Sunshine Law.
Exempts certain personal information of public servants from government records that are subject to disclosure under the State’s Uniform Information Practices Act. Establishes within the State’s Address Confidentiality Program protection for public servants that prohibits upon written request from the public servant or representative any person or organization from disclosing certain personal information. Establishes the offense of unlawful publication of personal information that prohibits any person or organization from knowingly disclosing protected personal information of public officials with the intent to cause reputational harm, emotional injury, or bodily injury. Takes effect 9/1/2024.
Amends the definitions of “board”, “board business”, and “meeting” within state open meetings law to expand the scope of the law to include state and county policymaking groups, including groups created by emergency proclamations.
Requires the Director of the Office of Information Practices to adopt rules to establish a process for the selection and appointment of trusted public representatives. Allows the Director of the Office of Information Practices to assign trusted public representatives to observe board meetings closed to the public. Requires the Director of the Office of Information Practices to include in the Director’s annual report the activities of trusted public representatives. Requires trusted public representatives to submit a confidential report to the Director of the Office of Information Practices that a board meeting was conducted in conformance with chapter 92, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes. Defines “trusted public representative”. Allows boards to hold certain meetings closed to the public if a trusted public representative is assigned to the meeting by the Director of the Office of Information Practices and is present at the meeting.