STAND. COM. REP. NO. 826

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1294

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1294 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require all candidates for public office in the State to use their legal name for election purposes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hydroponics Alternatives LLC and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Community Advocacy Research Education Services.

Your Committee finds that existing law allows for a candidate seeking office to use a Hawaiian name or the English equivalent, a nickname, or a name by which the candidate is commonly known, if the candidate so requests. Your Committee believes that requiring all candidates to use their full legal names will provide greater transparency and accountability in the elections process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 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 H.B. No. 1294, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1294, 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