The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committee on Judiciary on Feb. 19, 2025.
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Feb. 19, 2025, 9:45 a.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 016 and Videoconference
To: Senate Committee on Judiciary
Sen. Karl Rhoads, Chair
Sen. Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SB55 SD1 — RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
Aloha Chair Rhoads, Vice-Chair Gabbard and other members of the Committee,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer support for SB55 SD1, which would require all state agencies adopting, amending or repealing a rule to make the full text of the proposed rule available on the website of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in a digitally accessible and searchable format.
Administrative rules govern all aspects of life in Hawaii, from invasive species control to deadlines for the issuance of professional licenses, but currently there is no statewide system that makes it possible for the public to know of and track proposed changes to agencies’ administrative rules.
Instead, an interested individual must follow dozens of agencies’ calendars and websites for periodic and non-standardized rulemaking notices.
The changes proposed in SB55 would make it far easier for affected parties to learn of changes to administrative rules, thereby promoting transparency and civic engagement in agency rulemaking.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
