SB 114 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

SB 114 establishes a presidential primary election for the 2028 election cycle, beginning June 1, 2026. This affects voters in the state who will select their party's presidential candidate through this new primary process. The bill appropriates funds for implementation and is scheduled to take effect on April 23, 2057.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 9, 2025 Last action Feb 6, 2025

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What changed between versions

SB114 → SB114_SD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill establishes a new presidential preference primary election system in Hawaii, beginning with the 2028 election. It creates a separate primary for presidential candidates where voters can select a party ballot, while nonpartisan candidates are excluded from this specific election. The bill also amends existing election laws to align with this new system, including changes to nomination paper requirements, filing deadlines, and contest procedures.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of Hawaii's election system by adding a presidential preference primary election that operates separately from the general primary election. It specifically excludes nonpartisan candidates from participating in this new presidential preference primary.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'presidential preference primary' as an election where candidates associated with a political party receive votes for their presidential nominee at the national convention.

TIMELINE

Established that presidential preference primary elections will begin in 2028, with the first election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April in years divisible by four.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements for nomination papers in presidential preference primaries, including party membership certification and restrictions on nonpartisan candidates.

Changed filing deadlines for presidential candidate nomination papers to 85 days before the presidential preference primary election, compared to 170 days for other candidates.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified eligibility rules to allow candidates who lose the presidential preference primary to still appear on the general election ballot, consistent with existing federal law.

FISCAL

Added appropriations for the administration of the presidential preference primary election in 2028, with funds allocated to the state and distributed to counties.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions for contesting presidential preference primary results, with specific deadlines and procedures for challenging election outcomes.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 67) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Gabbard, San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-31-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 9, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor