State Legislature Set to Open January 19

The 26th Session of the Hawaii State Legislature is scheduled to start this coming Wednesday, January 19 starting at 10:00 a.m. in both the House and Senate Chambers. The Hawaii State Senate is set to go despite it not having an official session calendar due to the continued organizational delay that has been going on in the House. Despite that the Senate is ready to go, even as it tackles a controversial issue of the opening prayer at the start of the session.

State Senator Sam Slom‘s invited guests are encouraged to arrive at the Senator’s new office location in Room 214 at the Hawaii State Capitol by 9:00 a.m. om opening day. They will be escorted to their respective seating area on either the Senate floor or up in the Senate gallery. Session will start at 10 am and continue to about 12 noon. Senator Slom and his guests as well as the general public are free to return to Room 214 for light refreshments and drink and a chance to meet Sam and his Senate staff.

For those who cannot attend, the Senate Opening Day Session will be shown live on Olelo TV Channel 53 starting at 10:00 a.m. The House session will also air live on Olelo TV starting at 10:00 a.m. on Channel 49.

It is expected that other Senate and House offices will be open for meet and greet, light refreshments after sessions conclude on opening day.

By then the first wave of bill introductions will formally begin as the Senate and House Clerk offices are expected to start processing up to 1600 bills (or more) per house from opening day on to the bill introduction deadline, which may occur a week from now. The Senate Minority of which Senator Slom is the only member, is expected to introduce at least 60 bills this session tackling many issues including first and second amendment rights, tax reduction, term limits, initiative, referendum and recall, capitol punishment, right to life issues, workers comp and unemployment insurance reforms, and more. Senator Slom will introduce about a dozen core bills that will make up the minority package.

The State Legislative session is scheduled to last at least official 60 session days lasting to either the end of April or the first week of May. The 60 day session include a number of non-session recess days, weekends and holidays.

SENATOR SLOM’S WEEKLY CALENDAR