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Hawaii · 2025 Regular Session · Bill

SB 1225: PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XVII, SECTION 3 OF THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO SPECIFY THAT THE STANDARD FOR VOTER APPROVAL OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY THE LEGISLATURE IS A MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES TALLIED UPON THE QUESTION.

Passed one chamber Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 1225 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 21, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XVII, SECTION 3 OF THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO SPECIFY THAT THE STANDARD FOR VOTER APPROVAL OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY THE LEGISLATURE IS A MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES TALLIED UPON THE QUESTION. Primary sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Stanley Chang (Democratic), Carol Fukunaga (Democratic), Mike Gabbard (Democratic). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (March 21, 2025): Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1463) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Proposes to amend article XVII, section 3 of the Hawaii State Constitution regarding the standard for ratification of a constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, to require that a majority of all the votes tallied upon the question be a "yes" vote, and not include blank, spoiled, and over votes in determining whether a majority was reached. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 5

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Karl RhoadsPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate13
Stanley ChangPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate9
Carol FukunagaPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate11
Mike GabbardPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate21
Joy San BuenaventuraCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate2

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1463) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  2. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (7) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5).
  3. The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
  4. Notice of bill proposing constitutional amendment transmitted to Governor pursuant to Article XVII, Section 3 (Sen. Com. No. 1).
  5. Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-12-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
  6. Pass First Reading
  7. Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19
  8. Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 19; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards. Noes, 6 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella, Kim, McKelvey, San Buenaventura). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
  9. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 278).
  10. Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 946) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
  11. One Day Notice 03-04-25.
  12. The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Lee, C., Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Kim ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Fevella; and 0 Excused: none.

Showing 12 most recent of 20 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source