STAND. COM. REP. NO. 63

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 322

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 Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 322 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Human Services to automatically transmit voter registration information for any Med-Quest applicant;

(2) Authorize state agencies to implement automatic voter registration if designated by the Office of Elections; and

(3) Require eligible applicants for instruction permits, provisional licenses, driver's licenses, and identification cards to be automatically registered or preregistered to vote unless the applicants opt out.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Council on Developmental Disabilities; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Office of Elections.

Your Committee finds that ensuring every eligible person can register to vote in a convenient and secure manner is essential to a strong democracy. While Hawaii implemented automatic voter registration in 2021 to address historically low voter participation rates, the current opt-in system still places the burden on individuals to register, limiting its effectiveness. Therefore, this measure strengthens the State's automatic voter registration program, making the process more seamless and accessible for all eligible residents.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have required the Department of Human Services to automatically transmit voter registration information for any Med-Quest applicant;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 322, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 322, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair