STAND. COM. REP. NO. 895-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2099

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2099 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VACANCIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the processes for addressing party candidate and state senator vacancies.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Elections and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that existing statutory deadlines governing party candidate and state senate vacancies do not always align with the practical realities of ballot preparation, candidate certification, and election administration.

Your Committee further finds that clarifying and adjusting vacancy timelines will promote orderly elections, ensure voters are presented with complete and accurate ballots to the extent reasonably possible, and reduce administrative uncertainty for election officials while preserving established processes for filling vacancies and maintaining continuity of representation.

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. 2099 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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