KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair |
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Senator Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair |
NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Friday, February 13, 2026 |
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TIME: |
9:00 AM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 016 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY
The Legislature is accepting written, videoconference, and in-person testimony at public hearings.
A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.
A G E N D A
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RELATING TO FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES. Expands the scope of persons who are subject to public financial disclosure requirements.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO THE PROMOTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. Amends the offense of promoting a controlled substance in, on, or near schools, school vehicles, public parks, or public housing projects or complexes to include homeless facilities.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO JUVENILE OFFENDERS. Authorizes courts to modify sentences imposed on juvenile offenders if certain conditions are met and the court finds that the defendant is not a danger to the safety of any person or the community and the modification is in the interests of justice after considering certain factors. Establishes procedures, provides for hearings and representation by counsel, and authorizes appellate review.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. Repeals the law prohibiting drug paraphernalia under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE. Provides that the period of limitations for criminal prosecutions under campaign finance laws commences upon discovery of the offense by the Campaign Spending Commission, rather than being limited to five years from the violation date or report filing date.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. Requires a candidate or any individual authorized to receive contributions on behalf of a candidate or noncandidate committee to deposit the monetary contribution or other campaign funds into a depository institution within seven days of its receipt. Requires any elected official, candidate, candidate committee, or other individual required to file an organizational report who receives a contribution from a lobbyist to deposit the contribution within seven days of its receipt.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER. Specifies that the Chief Election office who passes the standard state probationary period may only be terminated for cause.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO ELECTIONS. Allows voters in a primary or special primary election to vote for any candidate for any office without regard to the voter or candidate's political party preference. Advances the top two candidates in a primary or special primary election, regardless of political party, to the general election.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO VACANCIES. Amends the processes for addressing party candidate and state senator vacancies.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO CERTIORARI REVIEW BY THE HAWAII SUPREME COURT. Establishes a fixed disposition deadline requiring the Supreme Court to decide an application for certiorari within 60 days after the application is filed. Applies prospectively to cases in which the judgment or dismissal order of the Intermediate Court of Appeals was filed on or after the effective date of this Act.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE ORDERS FOR PROTECTION. Removes the requirement that requests to withhold from public inspection the petition record of a denied temporary restraining order or denied protective order be made orally.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SERVANTS. Elevates the offense of harassment to a misdemeanor when committed against certain public servants in connection with their performance of a governmental function.
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JDC |
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RELATING TO NEPOTISM. Repeals language in the State's Code of Ethics that exempts the legislative and judicial branches from prohibitions against nepotism in public employment.
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JDC |
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Decision Making to follow, if time permits.
All testimony received by the Hawai‘i Senate is posted on the Hawai‘i Legislature's website, which is accessible to the public. Please do not include private information that you do not want disclosed to the public.
Please go to the Legislature's website, https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov, to submit written testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Create a free account on the website, or sign in to an existing account, then click on the "Participate" drop down menu and select the "Submit Testimony" option to get started. While submitting your written testimony, you will be prompted to indicate if you would also like to testify at the hearing in-person or remotely via videoconference.
Please note the following:
· The number of oral testifiers and/or time allotted to each testifier may be limited by the Chair when necessary to adhere to the committee hearing schedule. We may not be able to accommodate everyone who requests to testify orally.
· Testifiers for this hearing will be limited to 2 minutes each.
If you wish to testify via videoconference during the hearing, please review the detailed step-by-step instructions for testimony procedures before you submit your written testimony. Here's a direct link to the instructions: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/testimonyinstructions.pdf
For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. You can also visit their website at https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/.
For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email JDCcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.
For amended notices: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored. If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 808-586-6130.
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_____________________________________ Senator Karl Rhoads Chair |
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