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HRS §37-40

When trust funds can be spent without special approval

This section says that, except for administrative costs and unless other laws say otherwise, state departments can spend money from trust funds without getting a separate budget approval each year. But they cannot spend more than what is in the fund, and they cannot use the money for anything the fund is not allowed to pay for. Trust funds do not need to be reapproved every year.

state agencies

The statute, as written — Exceptions; trust funds

Except as to administrative expenditures, and except as otherwise provided by law, expenditures from trust funds may be made by any department or establishment without appropriation or allotment; provided that no expenditure shall be made from and no obligation shall be incurred against any trust fund in excess of the amount standing to the credit of the fund or for any purpose for which the fund may not lawfully be expended. Nothing in sections 37-31 to 37-41 shall require any trust fund established pursuant to law be reappropriated annually. [L Sp 1959 1st, c 12, pt of §3; Supp, §35-28; HRS §37-40; am L Sp 1995, c 11, §8; am L 2010, c 187, §§2, 12; am L 2012, c 175, §1]
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§37-31 State budget limits and savings rules

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.