STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 821
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 141
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 141 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Make the members of the Elections Commission subject to the advice and consent of the Senate; and
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the County Clerk of the County of Kauaʻi; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii State AFL-CIO; and six individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaiian Islands Republican Women and numerous individuals.
Your Committee finds that this measure will increase transparency in the process of appointing members to the Elections Commission and allow for public input on nominees.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requiring the Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court to appoint the member nominated if the vacancy occurs in the interim period when the Senate is not in regular session or special session; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 141, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 141, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair |
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