House defers conference committee reports, keeps journal open and recesses until Wednesday

The House of Representatives convened for a floor session during which members received Senate communications, recognized visitors, deferred a set of conference committee reports and approved procedural motions to keep the journal open and recess until 9:00 a.m. Wednesday.

Representative Morikawa moved to keep the journal open until midnight “for the purpose of receiving conference committee reports and accompanying drafts.” Representative Garcia seconded the motion, which was carried by voice vote; the transcript does not record a numerical tally.

Members were advised that conference committee reports numbered 11-26 through 40-26 (listed on pages 1–7) would be deferred one legislative day. Members also received 48-hour notice for conference committee report numbers 96-26 through 115-26 (pages 8–12).

Earlier in the session Mr. Clark reported multiple communications from the Senate, including that the Senate had passed noted House and Senate bills on final reading, reconsidered and agreed to some house amendments to Senate bills and concurrent resolutions, adopted noted Senate concurrent resolutions, and appointed or changed conferees to specified bills and a concurrent resolution.

Representative Todd introduced guests and staff from his office and committee support, including Summer from the finance office, his office manager Sarah, Vivian from finance committee operations and a guest named Albert; the introductions were met with applause. Representative Peruso asked members to recognize Chris Caufield from the Hawaii Public Health Institute in the gallery. Representative Kealoha noted that the 2025 legislature enacted Act 270, designating the first Friday of May as Laulau Day, and wished members and his father a happy Laulau Day.

Representative Morikawa later moved that the House “stand in recess until 9:00 a.m. Wednesday.” Representative Garcia seconded; members voted by voice and the Speaker recessed the House. The roll call earlier in the session established that 50 members were present and one was absent.

The House will reconvene at the time specified by the Speaker, and deferred conference committee reports will return for further action on a subsequent legislative day.