SB 1031 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO ADVISORY REFERENDUMS.

Summary

Authorizes the Legislature to adopt any Concurrent Resolution to propose a non-binding advisory referendum question concerning the issuance of general obligation bonds to the people, who may vote on the question during any general election. Imposes notice, certification, and reporting requirements on the Chief Election Officer. Requires a written explanation for any legislative acts that are contrary to the reported majority vote on the advisory referendum question to be reflected in the legislative record. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1031 → SB1031_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to restrict advisory referendums exclusively to questions about issuing general obligation bonds, requiring the legislature to consider referendum results when deciding on bond issuance, and mandating a written explanation in the legislative record if the legislature acts contrary to the referendum majority vote. The effective date was also changed to January 1, 2491.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from allowing advisory referendums on any subject matter to being limited only to questions concerning the issuance of general obligation bonds.

SCOPE

Added a proviso limiting advisory referendum questions to the issuance of general obligation bonds only.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that the legislature must consider advisory referendum results when authorizing general obligation bonds.

Added requirement for a written explanation in the legislative record if the legislature acts contrary to the advisory referendum majority vote.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from 'upon approval' to January 1, 2491.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 462) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to GVO, JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors