Committee and procedural abbreviations

Quick guide to committee names, bill versions, and procedural terms you'll see in session or in our daily State Bill Updates.

Publish date: February 25, 2026

| Last updated: June 24, 2026

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In this resource

House Committees

  • JHA – Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
  • FIN – Finance
  • EEP – Energy & Environmental Protection
  • HLT – Health & Homelessness
  • LAT – Labor & Tourism
  • ECD – Economic Development
  • HOU – Housing
  • WAL – Water & Land
  • TRN – Transportation
  • AGR – Agriculture
  • CPC – Consumer Protection & Commerce
  • LGO – Local Government

Senate Committees

  • PSM – Public Safety & Military Affairs
  • WAM – Ways and Means
  • JDC – Judiciary & Civil Law
  • HHS – Health & Human Services
  • EET – Energy, Economic Development & Technology
  • AEN – Agriculture & Environment
  • WTL – Water & Land
  • HWN – Hawaiian Affairs
  • TSI – Transportation & International Affairs
  • CPH – Commerce & Consumer Protection
  • LCA – Labor & Culture & the Arts
  • GVO – Government Operations

Bill Version Indicators

  • HD1, HD2, etc. – House Draft 1, 2, etc.
  • SD1, SD2, etc. – Senate Draft 1, 2, etc.
  • CD1, CD2, etc. – Conference Draft 1, 2, etc.

Procedural Terms

  • 1st Reading – Bill is introduced and assigned to committee(s)
  • 2nd Reading – Bill is debated and can be amended
  • 3rd Reading – Final vote in that chamber
  • Passed – Approved by committee or full chamber
  • Passed with amendments – Approved but with changes
  • Referred to [Committee] – Sent to committee for review
  • Deferred – Postponed, may not advance
  • Held – Committee chose not to hear the bill
  • Carried over – Bill continues to next session
  • Conferees appointed – House and Senate negotiators selected to resolve differences
  • Conf. Comm. – Conference Committee (joint House/Senate committee to reconcile different versions)

Bill Status

  • Enacted – Passed both chambers and signed into law
  • Vetoed – Governor rejected the bill
  • Dead – Failed to advance

Other Common Terms

  • SLH – Session Laws of Hawaii (e.g., "Act 245, SLH 2024")
  • Act – A bill that has become law
  • Companion bill – Similar or identical bill in the other chamber
  • Introduced by request – Introduced on behalf of another party (often an executive agency)

The information on this website is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have specific legal questions, please consult a qualified attorney.

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