Folks at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Abercrombie Administration are no doubt pleased that Senate Bill 2783 passed two House committees unamended Wednesday (March 14).

SB 2783 was actually passed by the same committees on Monday, but with minor technical amendments. Possibly, the measure could have wound up in conference committee between the House and Senate — also known as the place bills go to die or be radically changed behind closed doors.

OHA and Abercrombie oppose any amendments, as they wish to speed delivery of the bill to the governor’s desk for his signature.

SB 2783 now awaits hearings in House Judiciary and House Finance — by no means insignificant hurdles.

Bill Meheula, Colette Machado, Neil Abercrombie and David Louie, executive chambers, Nov. 17, 2011.