Legislative Update – February 28

The Senate heads toward the first major deadline – crossover. This deadline happens on Thursday, March 10. There is much work to be done between now and then. This included digesting all of the senate bills that pass out of their final committees for third reading, meeting in caucus and actually voting on the bills. Senator Slom’s staff as well as the staff from the Senate Minority Research office are busy working on processing the bills and getting ready for the long voting day set to occur on Tuesday, March 8 starting at 9:00 a.m. in the Senate chamber.

The legislative session is more than 1/3 the way done and is now in the middle of a mandatory 5-day recess period that started on February 24 and ends on March 2.

Here is Senator Slom’s brief upcoming calendar of legislative events:

Feb. 28, 2011 – Monday – RECESS DAY – Various Committee Hearings – No Session
March 1, 2011 – Tuesday – RECESS DAY – Various Committee Hearings – No Session
March 2, 2011 – Wednesday – RECESS DAY – Various Committee Hearings – No Session

March 3, 2011 – Thursday – Session Day #24 – Session 11:30 am
March 4, 2011 – Friday – Session Day #25 – Session 11:30 am
March 5, 2011 – Saturday – Bill Digesting & Processing

March 7, 2011 – Monday – RECESS DAY – 9:00 am Minority Caucus meeting – bill discussion & prioritization
March 8, 2011 – Tuesday – Session Day #26 – 9:00 am – Session Voting on 300+ Third Reading bills

March 9, 2011 – Wednesday – RECESS DAY – no session

March 10, 2011 – Thursday – Session Day #27 – 11:30 am – Session remaining bill voting, crossover.
Bills from the Senate crossover to the House, Bills from the House crossover to the Senate.

March 11, 2011 – Friday – Session Day #28 – 11:30 am – JA Hawaii floor presentation @ session.

The public is encouraged to attend Senate Floor sessions during the 2 crossover bill voting days. There will also be live TV coverage on Olelo cable for the Tuesday sessions (Senate & House) on March 8.

MORE NEWS

Press Conference #3

Senator Slom’s 3rd press conference touching on issues dealing with the Governor’s proposed budget, Hawaiian nation building, taxes and more was held in his office at the State Capitol on February 23. See the video above.

Combined Senate WAM and House Finance Informational Briefing

Senator Slom asks the Governor questions regarding the State Budget. Audio clip with slides from February 22, 2011 Senate Ways & Means / House Finance Committees joint legislative briefing.

Hahaione 4th Grade Class Visit

Hahaione Elementary School 4th grade students visited the State Senate chamber on February 17. The students were well versed and asked some tough questions regarding taxes, school closure, and time for more recess and physical education.