
In 2025, the Levin Center conducted a study of all 50 states to examine how legislatures ensure government programs work effectively for citizens. Factors such as legislative oversight committees, routine engagement with executive agencies, collection of casework data, digital transparency tools, and user-centered policy evaluation were of particular importance. The full report can be found here.
State Summary #
The Hawaii Legislature offers several tools to encourage people-centered oversight behaviors. The Legislative Reference Bureau offers a plethora of resources to help citizens engage with the legislative process, and oversight committees in both chambers dedicate time for public testimony. Committees also make it easy to submit and review testimony online. Both oversight committees offer a substantial number of public reports detailing their work throughout the last session.