STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3729

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1716

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1716, 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 establish a process by which any political party continuously listed on the general election ballot for eight or more years shall be deemed continuously qualified for ballot placement.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action, Green Party of Hawaiʻi, Our Revolution Hawaii, and fifteen individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the on individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that existing law requires political parties to repeatedly petition to retain ballot access, despite uninterrupted ballot qualification over extended periods, demonstrating durable voter support, organizational stability, and ongoing compliance with election laws. This measure attempts to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on political parties and the State and ensure consistent, predictable, and nondiscriminatory ballot access in Hawaii elections.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have established a process, requirements, and exemptions for a political party to be deemed continuously qualified for ballot placement under certain conditions and clarified the role and authority of the Chief Election Officer and Office of Elections;

(2) Reducing the number of general election cycles from three to two for a political party to be deemed continuously qualified for ballot placement;

(3) Making conforming amendments;

(4) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(5) Inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion; and

(6) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 1716, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1716, 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,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair