STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1261-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2466

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 2466 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to specify that the Chief Election Officer who has passed the standard state probationary period may only be terminated for cause.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that ensuring stability and independence in the administration of elections is essential to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process. Existing law does not clearly protect the Chief Election Officer from arbitrary dismissal, which may create uncertainty in leadership and undermine continuity in election operations. Your Committee believes that establishing a clear for‑cause termination standard will strengthen institutional stability and support consistent, impartial election administration statewide.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Moving the substantive provisions of this measure to a more appropriate section of the Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Deleting language that would have tied termination protections to the completion of the standard state probationary period;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2466, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2466, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair