Relating To The Salaries Of Certain State Officials.
Summary
SCR36 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution that disapproves the 2025 Hawaii Commission on Salaries’ recommendations to increase and adjust the pay of certain state officials. The resolution specifically addresses salaries for the governor, lieutenant governor, executive department heads, legislators, and justices and judges of the state courts, all of whom are covered by the constitutional salary commission process.
The resolution states that the Legislature appreciates the commission’s work but believes the recommended increases are excessive given current economic conditions in Hawaii. If adopted by both chambers, the resolution would reject the proposed salary schedule changes and require the commission to reconvene by November 2025 to review the Legislature’s reasons, issue a report, and submit a new recommendation for consideration in the 2026 session.
Impact
SCR36 would not directly amend the Hawaii Revised Statutes, but it would exercise the Legislature’s constitutional authority under Article XVI, Section 3.5 and related statutory procedures to disapprove salary recommendations from the Salary Commission. If adopted, the recommended salary increases for covered state officials would not take effect on July 1 of the next fiscal year, and the commission would be required to revisit the issue and make a new recommendation. The practical effect would be to delay or prevent higher compensation for top elected and judicial officials until a revised proposal is made and considered.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment in the bill text is respectful but negative toward the proposed pay increases. The Legislature expresses appreciation for the commission’s work, but the resolution clearly rejects the recommendations as too generous in light of the state’s economic conditions. No committee testimony or vote record is provided, so the available record reflects only the bill’s stated rationale and not broader public or member debate.
Contention
The main point of contention is whether the 2025 Salary Commission’s recommended increases are appropriate during current economic conditions. Supporters of disapproval, as reflected in the resolution, view the increases as excessive and not justified. The affected parties are the officials whose salaries would rise under the commission’s plan, including the governor, lieutenant governor, legislators, executive department heads, and judges. The resolution also implicitly raises the institutional issue of legislative oversight versus the commission’s independent salary-setting role.