2014 Hawaii Legislature Set for Opening Day

Wednesday is opening day for the 2014 session of the Hawaii Legislature.

The 25 members of the Senate and 51 members of the House of Representatives will convene at 10 a.m. in their respective chambers.

According to the state’s Constitution, the Legislature is to convene on the third Wednesday in January.

The Legislature holds two-year sessions which begin in odd years. Such biennium sessions mean that bills introduced during the 2013 session which did not pass may be reconsidered this year without being re-introduced.

According to Hawaii Legislature leaders, the opening will be a relatively modest affair as it was in previous second years of the bienniums in 2010 and 2012.

That means there will not be musical entertainment, and the Legislature will forego the custom of seating of family members, friends and guests on the chamber floors. Following the opening session, lawmakers will have the opportunity to host guests in their individual offices.

However, since this is the 55^th anniversary of Hawaii’s statehood, lawmakers will acknowledge and honor former House and Senate members who have served since 1959. More than 50 former representatives are expected to attend in the House alone.

The session is scheduled to last 60 working days — not including various week-day recesses — and conclude on May 1.

Information on the Legislature, its members and bills and resolutions is available here. The website also provides guidance on reviewing and submitting testimony on legislation.