HONOLULU (AP) - There’s a lot on the agenda for the first full week of Hawaii’s 2015 legislative session. Lawmakers introduced more than 650 bills in the span of two days. The proposals range from allowing dogs in restaurants to encouraging public participation in government. The first committee hearings on bills will be held this week.
A look at what’s happening at the Legislature:
- GOVERNOR’S GOALS - The week will kick off with a speech by Gov. David Ige, who will outline his policy priorities in his first annual State-of-the-State address Monday morning. Monday is the deadline for the governor to submit his legislative package of bills, so the public will begin to get a sense of what he hopes to accomplish.
- COUNTY CASH - The heads of Hawaii’s four counties will meet with the money committees from both chambers Monday afternoon to talk about their financial needs. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is expected to ask to extend a rail tax indefinitely.
- STATE OF JUDICIARY - Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald will deliver his State of the Judiciary address on Tuesday.
- GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY - Government agencies are being asked to take good care of the documents that they’re required to share with the public under a bill that will be heard in the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor Tuesday.
- BILL CUTOFF - Even though the session just began, the last day to introduce bills is Thursday.
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