HB 2274: Funds; Emergency Appropriations

Current Status:

Failed

(2026-03-12: Referred to WAM.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

What does this bill do?

This bill provides emergency general-fund appropriations to state departments and their programs to cover operating shortfalls caused by the loss of authority to transfer money between programs. It adjusts funding by increasing some program budgets and reducing others so the overall changes balance and existing operations can continue.

Version:

Appropriates general funds to various programs due to anticipated operating shortfalls because of the lack of authority to transfer funds between programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Version:

HB2274 HD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2274
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. In prior years, the respective budget acts contained a budget proviso such as section 72 of Act 88, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, the General Appropriations Act of 2021 (Act 88), which permitted departments to transfer funds between their programs provided that the legislature was informed of the transfers. However, section 8 of Act 248, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022, repealed section 72 of Act 88, and Act 250, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, the General Appropriations Act of 2025, did not reinstate the proviso. Consequently, although funds were appropriated to various state departments for their operating programs for fiscal year 2025-2026, the proviso's elimination limits the ability of departments to transfer funds between their programs to address changing conditions.

The purpose of this Act is to address the omission of the transfer proviso by providing fourth quarter funding for existing programs and adjusting funding for various programs to be commensurate with their anticipated levels of activity. The emergency appropriation and the funding adjustment made in this Act are budget neutral.

SECTION 3. Act 250, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, is amended as follows:

(1) By adding new sections to read as follows:

"SECTION . The following sums or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 are appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii to the following programs within the department of _______________ for the purpose of continuing existing programs and operations.

PROGRAM AMOUNT

_______ ________"

(2) By amending sections and appropriations to read as follows:

"SECTION . Of the appropriations out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii to the following programs within the department of _________________, the following amounts are reduced.

PROGRAM AMOUNT

_______ _________"

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Funds; Emergency Appropriations

Description:

Appropriates general funds to various programs due to anticipated operating shortfalls because of the lack of authority to transfer funds between programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

HB2274

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2274
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 3. Act 250, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, is amended as follows:

(1) By adding new sections to read as follows:

PROGRAM AMOUNT

_______ ________"

(2) By amending sections and appropriations to read as follows:

"SECTION . Of the appropriations out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii to the following programs within the department of _________________, the following amounts are reduced.

PROGRAM AMOUNT

_______ _________"

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Funds; Emergency Appropriations

Description:

Appropriates general funds to various programs due to anticipated operating shortfalls because of the lack of authority to transfer funds between programs.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

Date	Status
Mar 12, 2026	Referred to WAM.
Mar 12, 2026	Passed First Reading.
Mar 12, 2026	Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 385).
Mar 10, 2026	Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
Mar 6, 2026	Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Hashem, Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (4).
Mar 6, 2026	Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1013-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
Feb 19, 2026	The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
Feb 17, 2026	Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Feb 9, 2026	Received from Governor re: emergency appropriation (Gov. Msg. No. 3).
Jan 30, 2026	Referred to FIN, referral sheet 5
Jan 28, 2026	Introduced and Pass First Reading.
Jan 26, 2026	Pending introduction.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Mar 10, 2026	Third Reading	House Floor	50 0 2 Passed
Feb 19, 2026	The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	House Standing Committee on Finance	16 0 0 Passed

Key

Pro

Against

Did Not Vote

This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.

Positions by individuals are not included.

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Organization	Position	Date
Department of Budget and Finance	** Support
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation	** Support

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1013-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2274

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2274 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate general funds to various programs due to anticipated operating shortfalls because of the lack of authority to transfer funds between programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Your Committee finds that this measure provides a means for departments to address operating budget shortfalls due to the limited ability to transfer funds between programs within the same department and ensure continued departmental services and operations that serve the public good.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2274, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2274, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair

Date	Testimony PDF
Feb 18, 2026	HB2274_TESTIMONY_FIN_02-19-26_.PDF

Discussed in Hearing

37SEC

House Standing Committee on Finance

24SEC

House Standing Committee on Finance

View Older Hearings

Authors shown for version:
HB2274_HD1 (3/5/2026)