THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
711
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to gubernatorial appointments.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: §26- ] [Underlined: Gubernatorial appointments; salaries; senate confirmation.] [Underlined: (a) Any person appointed by the governor to serve in the executive branch shall obtain the advice and consent of the senate if the person's annual salary is greater than or equal to the annual salary of:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: The governor, if the person is appointed to serve in the office of the governor; or]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: The head of the principal department in which the person will serve; provided that if a person is appointed by the governor to serve in an executive branch agency that is attached to a principal department for administrative purposes, that person shall be subject to this paragraph if the person's annual salary will be greater than or equal to the annual salary of the head of the principal department to which the agency is attached for administrative purposes.]
[Underlined: (b) This section shall not apply to the position of administrative director pursuant to article V, section 5, of the state constitution.]
[Underlined: (c) If a person who would be subject to senate confirmation under this section is required to obtain the advice and consent of the senate under any other law, the provisions of that law shall supersede any conflicting provisions of this section.]
[Underlined: (d) As used in this section:]
[Underlined: "Person appointed by the governor to serve in the executive branch" means a person appointed by the governor to serve in a salaried position in the executive branch that is not subject to chapter 76.]
[Underlined: "Principal department" means a principal department described in section 26-4.]"
SECTION 2. (a) No later than the forty-first day of the regular session of 2026, the governor shall transmit governor's messages to the senate president containing nominations for each gubernatorial appointee who was appointed to their position before the effective date of this Act and whose annual salary is greater than or equal to the annual salary of:
(1) The governor, if the person was appointed to serve in the office of the governor; or
(2) The head of the principal department in which the person is serving; provided that if a person was appointed by the governor to serve in an executive branch agency that is attached to a principal department for administrative purposes, that person shall be subject to this paragraph if the person's annual salary is greater than or equal to the annual salary of the head of the principal department to which the agency is attached for administrative purposes.
(b) No gubernatorial appointee nominated pursuant to subsection (a) shall continue to serve in that person's position after the adjournment sine die of the regular session of 2026 unless the person obtains the advice and consent of the senate.
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
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Report Title:
Gubernatorial Appointments; Salaries; Senate Confirmation
Description:
Requires a person appointed to serve in the executive branch to obtain the advice and consent of the Senate if that person's salary is greater than or equal to: (1) The Governor's salary, if the person is appointed to serve in the Office of the Governor; or (2) The salary of the head of the principal department in which the person will serve.
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