CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 158

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 134

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 134, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Chief Election Officer to provide a system for the electronic filing of nomination papers;

(2) Prohibit the Chief Election Officer from charging an additional fee to filers for using the electronic system; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the Chief Election Officer to provide a system for the electronic filing of nomination papers.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the system for the electronic filing of nomination papers shall be operated and maintained by the Office of Elections and made available to the county clerks;

(2) Appropriating $150,000 for the Chief Election Officer to provide a system for the electronic filing of nomination papers;

(3) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2028; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 134, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 134, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair	____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair
____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM Co-Chair	____________________________ LISA KITAGAWA Co-Chair