Const. Art. VII, §11
Time limits on state spending
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗This section sets time limits on most state spending from general or bond funds. Money must be used within a set period, usually no more than three years, or it is lost. There are special rules for school building funds and federal aid.
state agencies
The constitution, as written — Appropriations
A copy, taken August 21, 2026. The version published by the Legislature is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
All appropriations for which the source is general obligation bond funds or general funds shall be for specified periods. No such appropriation shall be made for a period exceeding three years; provided that appropriations from the state educational facilities improvement special fund may be made for periods exceeding three years to allow for construction or acquisition of public school facilities. Any such appropriation or any portion of any such appropriation that is unencumbered at the close of the fiscal period for which the appropriation is made shall lapse; provided that no appropriation for which the source is general obligation bond funds nor any portion of any such appropriation shall lapse if the legislature determines that the appropriation or any portion of the appropriation is necessary to qualify for federal aid financing and reimbursement. Where general obligation bonds have been authorized for an appropriation, the amount of the bond authorization shall be reduced in an amount equal to the amount lapsed. [Add Const Con 1978 and election Nov 7, 1978; am SB 2211 (1996) and election Nov 5, 1996] Attorney General Opinions Funds may not be appropriated for a biennial appropriation period with a lapse date more than one year beyond the close of the biennial period. Att. Gen. Op. 81-2.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.