STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1291

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 121

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 S.B. No. 121 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW THE SENATE MORE TIME TO CONFIRM JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to propose an amendment to article VI, section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution to allow the Senate sixty days during certain times of the year in which to consider and act on the appointments of justices and judges.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that by extending the Senate's review period for judicial appointments from thirty to sixty days for appointments made between April 1 and December 31, it will reduce the number of special sessions required for confirmations, thereby improving efficiency and reducing costs.

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 S.B. No. 121 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair