SB 114 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

SB 114 establishes a presidential preference primary election in the state beginning June 1, 2026, for the 2028 presidential election cycle. This requires voters in the state to select their preferred presidential candidate in a formal primary election prior to the general election. The bill appropriates funds to implement and administer this new primary process. It will take effect on April 23, 2057, though the primary elections themselves start in 2026.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 9, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB114 → SB114_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill introduces a new 'presidential preference primary' election type for the 2028 cycle, allowing political parties to select delegates based on primary results. It amends multiple election statutes to accommodate this new process, including rules for nomination papers and ballot access, while removing specific funding amounts to be determined later.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of Hawaii's election laws to include a new category of election (presidential preference primary) and updates related filing and ballot procedures to support it.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'presidential preference primary' to clarify that it is an election where candidates receive votes for their party's presidential nominee.

REQUIREMENT

Reordered the bill's sections and updated section numbers to reflect the addition of the new primary election type throughout the statute.

FISCAL

Removed specific dollar amounts for state and county funding appropriations, replacing them with blank lines to be filled in later.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the entire act to April 23, 2057, while keeping the operational start date for the new election rules at June 1, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated nomination paper requirements and ballot access rules to explicitly allow nonpartisan candidates in general elections but exclude them from the new presidential preference primary.

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

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

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

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor