As the final days of conference committee sessions at the Hawai‘i Legislature unfold this week, the pace can become maddeningly frustrating for those following the key bills pushed towards passage.
On Wednesday, numerous bills—including those aimed at strengthening the state’s partial public financing program for elections—were ‘rolled over’ to Thursday. This pattern of delay reflects the overarching influence of leadership and fiscal committee chairs who control the legislative agenda, often leaving committee members in limbo without any specific reason for the hold-up.
One of the most notable measures delayed was a proposal designed to reform property seizure protocols in criminal investigations. Currently, the bill suggests that property may be seized without a conviction, which many believe is an unjust standard that should be revised. Other delayed bills include funding for the Kauhale Initiative and ‘Ohana Zones Pilot Program, as well as proposals to permanently integrate biosecurity into the Department of Agriculture and to provide clarity on the responsibilities of the new state fire marshal.
The deadline for non-fiscal bills to advance is Thursday, with fiscal bill considerations extending until the end of business on Friday.
On a more positive note, a significant measure was passed by the House and Senate conference committees on Wednesday that would permit the automatic revocation of professional licenses for registered sex offenders by the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA).
This legislative move follows an investigative report by Civil Beat that highlighted the extended licensing of a Hawai‘i acupuncturist and physical therapist, who retained professional accreditation despite a conviction for arranging a sexual encounter with an undercover agent posing as a minor.
Senate Bill 1373, which targets health care practitioners and various regulated professions, aims to minimize consumer risk associated with professionals maintaining their licenses despite serious criminal offenses.
The DCCA, along with specific licensing boards, would be empowered to automatically revoke, deny the renewal, or reinstate licenses for registered sex offenders. The measure includes professions such as acupuncturists, athletic trainers, chiropractors, dentists, and dental hygienists, underscoring a commitment to uphold consumer safety.
In another pivotal development, conference committee approval was granted to Senate Bill 281, which seeks to officially define and criminalize torture in Hawaiʻi. Surprisingly, the state had never explicitly prohibited or defined torture, a gap that SB 281 intends to rectify by classifying these heinous acts as a class A felony.
The bill describes torture in clear terms, identifying various physical and psychological abuses, such as burning, strangling, or deprivation of basic necessities like food and clothing. However, in a last-minute alteration, an exception was made for cases of starvation due solely to poverty, reinforcing the need for nuanced protections against intentional abuse.
Despite the adjustment, Representative Lisa Marten condemned the commonality of severe abuse cases impacting children in Hawaiʻi, stressing the urgent need for this classification to protect the vulnerable.
Additional bills making strides in the legislature include House Bill 412, which expands lobbyist registration and reporting requirements to encompass advocates of significant projects through the executive branch. Recent amendments clarify that the new stipulations would not apply to general informational communications or ceremonial interactions.
Furthermore, House Concurrent Resolution 61 requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on how other jurisdictions draft fiscal notes to assess the costs associated with proposed bills. This move is particularly important given that Hawaiʻi lacks a formal process for such fiscal assessments, often leaving legislators in the dark regarding financial implications.
Senate Bill 176, which modifies the minimum threshold for triggering automatic recounts of election results, has also advanced. Alongside it, Senate Bill 1030 specifies that conduct such as carrying an unconcealed dangerous instrument, including firearms, within a designated distance of a voter service center, constitutes election fraud intimidation.
In a bold move into the realm of energy policy, Senate Concurrent Resolution 136 has emerged as a pertinent proposal urging the State Energy Office to form a working group to explore the potential for utilizing advanced nuclear power technologies in Hawai‘i.
With an official goal of achieving 100% reliance on renewable energy by 2045, Hawai‘i finds itself still reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet energy demands. Despite the increase in renewable sources such as geothermal, wind, and solar, utility bills continue to strain residents. Nuclear energy could present a viable alternative.
The resolution highlights that nuclear power is a leading energy source in the U.S., providing around a fifth of the nation’s electricity and operating reliably around the clock.
Should the state consider moving toward nuclear energy, it would require a two-thirds legislative approval due to a constitutional provision that restricts the construction of nuclear plants without legislative consent.
Interestingly, concerns over legislative maneuvering were raised when a Civil Beat reader speculated about possible changes to SCR 136’s original intent to form a geothermal working group. However, legislative resolutions are not bound by the same procedural restrictions applicable to bills, allowing for adaptations as necessary.
As the legislature races toward its critical deadlines, the progress of these key bills reflects significant strides toward enhancing public accountability and ethical governance in Hawaiʻi. The various legislative efforts signify a commitment to protecting citizens and addressing pressing state issues, despite the inevitable frustrations tied to the end-of-session chaos.
image source from：https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/04/the-sunshine-blog-some-bills-squeeze-through-the-bottleneck-others-don%CA%BBt/
