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Recently, Governor Josh Green sent a list of 11 bills to legislative leaders, indicating his intention to potentially veto them. This news has prompted House Speaker Scott Saiki to call for a caucus among House members to discuss these bills further. While it seems unlikely that these vetoes would require an override vote, there is still work to be done on these bills during the next legislative session in 2024.
Governor Green has until July 11 to make a decision on these bills and exercise his right to veto them. If no action is taken, the bills not on this list will automatically become law on July 11.
It is important to note that Governor Green has carefully considered these bills and made his decisions based on legal considerations, the impact on the public and residents, and the efficiency of government operations.
Let’s take a closer look at the 11 bills that are currently at risk of being vetoed:
1. House Bill 153 proposes adding penalties to violations of the State Water Code. However, Governor Green is concerned that enacting these fines may have negative effects on housing developments throughout Hawaii. He believes that without clear guidelines for penalties and fines, the implementation of these fines could become arbitrary and discretionary.
2. HB 475 establishes the Art in Private Places Pilot Program and Special Account. Governor Green believes that this bill conflicts with the intention of the Art in Public Places law and raises concerns about its constitutionality.
3. Senate Bill 814 requires the Office of Enterprise Technology Services to oversee multilingual accessibility standards for electronic information technology. Governor Green is concerned about the potential costs and the impeding effect on modernization efforts across the state’s IT systems.
4. SB 945 mandates the licensure, regulation, and oversight of special-purpose digital currency companies. Governor Green highlights the lack of funding to support the bill’s purpose, as requested by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. He also raises concerns about whether the regulatory and oversight provisions adequately protect consumers.
5. HB 964 proposes a significant fee increase for the issuance of certifications and establishes a special fund. Governor Green believes that this fee increase disproportionately impacts educational and community groups that rely on these essential government services.
6. HB 999 aims to change the composition of the Hawai‘i Technology Development Corp. board of directors. However, Governor Green views this change as unnecessary.
7. SB 1079 seeks to expunge certain drunken driving convictions that occurred before 1998. Governor Green points out that the referenced laws were enacted after 1998, rendering this bill ineffective in terms of expungement.
8. HB 1088 pertains to the declaration and notice of water shortages and emergencies by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Governor Green believes that existing powers of the Hawai‘i Commission on Water Resource Management are sufficient to address emergency situations. Additionally, the Water Shortage Plan, currently being developed by CWRM, is crucial for any future strategies regarding water shortage emergencies.
9. HB 1090 specifies the issuance and renewal of ocean recreation commercial permits by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Governor Green acknowledges the need for reform in the recreational commercial permitting system but emphasizes the importance of a balanced and concerted approach to minimize adverse effects on fishermen, local jobs, and businesses across the islands.
10. SB 1518 proposes an exemption for the state Department of Education regarding procurement of certain goods, services, and construction. Governor Green points out that if enacted, this bill may decrease efficiency, create administrative burdens, limit competition, and offer unfair advantages to certain vendors.
11. SB 1586 aims to fund positions for the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Governor Green expresses concern that this legislation may conflict with existing statutes related to the classification of employees at the university, as the positions outlined in the bill are categorized as administrative, professional, and technical (APT) positions, whereas they should be faculty-level positions.
These decisions made by Governor Green are not to be taken lightly. He has carefully considered the legal and practical implications of each bill, always keeping in mind the well-being of the public and efficient government operations.
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