STAND. COM. REP. NO. 833

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 110

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 110 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GENDER-NEUTRAL TERMINOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require gender-specific terminology used in adoption and divorce matters to be construed in a gender-neutral manner.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Rainbow Family 808, and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that for many individuals, including queer and gender nonconforming individuals, the ability to start a family is a significant life event. Presently, certain laws maintain gender-specific terminology that is not only exclusionary, but also erases the experiences and identities of individuals who do not fit into the gender binary. This measure requires gender-specific terminology used in adoption and divorce matters to be construed in a gender-neutral manner to allow all individuals to be recognized and respected in the legal system regardless of their gender identity.

Your Committee notes that this measure's approach is piecemeal, and future committees may wish to consider a more comprehensive approach that applies to all state laws.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 110, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 110, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair