HB 1716 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Summary

Establishes a process by which any political party continuously listed on the general election ballot for two consecutive general election cycles shall be deemed continuously qualified for ballot placement. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed Mar 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1716_HD1 → HB1716_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was revised to significantly lower the threshold for political parties to avoid repeating the ballot access petition process. The original version required eight years of continuous presence on the ballot, while the new version only requires two consecutive general election cycles. Additionally, the effective date was moved from 2026 to 2075, and the bill now explicitly amends Section 11-62 rather than adding a new section.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by reducing the time requirement for automatic ballot qualification from eight years to two consecutive election cycles, making it easier for parties to retain ballot access.

ELIGIBILITY

Reduced the requirement for automatic ballot qualification from eight consecutive years to just two consecutive general election cycles.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the bill from 2026 to March 22, 2075.

REQUIREMENT

Altered the amendment target from adding a new section to amending subsection (d) of Section 11-62.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 611) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) McKelvey. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 9:55AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to JDC.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 269).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Reyes Oda, Shimizu, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors