STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1720

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 176

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 176, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RECOUNTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow certain ballots to be included in the initial tabulation and increase the qualifying criteria for an automatic election recount to equal to or less than one hundred votes or one-half of one percent, rather than one-quarter of one percent of the total number of votes cast.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaii Patriot Republicans; Aloha Freedom Coalition; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Elections.

Your Committee finds that this measure clarifies which ballots are included in the initial tabulation for automatic election recounts, ensuring a more transparent and comprehensive recount process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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. 176, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 176, S.D. 1, 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,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair