SB 2315 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XVII, SECTION 3 OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO SPECIFY THAT THE STANDARD FOR VOTER APPROVAL OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY THE LEGISLATURE IS A MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES TALLIED UPON THE QUESTION.

Summary

Proposes to amend article XVII, section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution regarding the standard for ratification of a constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, to provide that proposed amendments shall be effective only if approved at a general election by a majority of all the votes tallied upon the question. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2315_SD1 → SB2315_SD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated from the first to the second session, changing the sponsor and updating metadata dates. The core policy change shifts the standard for ratifying constitutional amendments from requiring a majority of 'tallied' votes to requiring a majority of 'all votes tallied,' which explicitly excludes blank, spoiled, and overvotes from the count. Additionally, the effective date for this new standard was set to July 1, 2050.

Scope change

The scope of the amendment applies to all future constitutional amendments proposed by the legislature, with a specific timeline for implementation.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the ratification threshold to exclude blank, spoiled, and overvotes from the total count, requiring a majority of all validly tallied votes to pass.

TIMELINE

Set a specific effective date of July 1, 2050, for the new ratification standard.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata including the sponsor name, page count, and session dates.

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

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1418-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Cochran; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 15

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 23) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Notice of bill proposing constitutional amendment transmitted to Governor pursuant to Article XVII, Section 3 (Sen. Com. No. 1).

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 21; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards, San Buenaventura. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, McKelvey). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Richards.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2152) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 2 No(es): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor