STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1615

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1294

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1294, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require every candidate for public office in Hawai‘i to use their legal name for election purposes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii and one individual.

Your Committee finds that some candidates for public office are commonly known by a nickname or something other than their legal name. However, the use of nicknames or other names can cause confusion over the identity of the candidate. This measure will require candidates to use their legal name, which will help eliminate any confusion and standardize the election process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1294, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1294, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair