SB 435 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO VOTING.

Summary

Requires the Office of Elections to include a notice to voters that a digital and print voter information guide is available. Requires the notice to be in thirty-two-point font and enclosed as a separate insert with each ballot. Requires the Office of Elections to maintain a notice on its website providing certain information about the voter information guide. Requires the Office of Elections to make the digital voter information guide available to the public no later than twenty-one days before the primary election and no later than fifty days before the general election. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB435 → SB435_SD1 · 2 edits

MINOR

This bill adds a new funding provision to cover the cost of printing extra instruction sheets for mail-in ballots and changes the effective date of the law from immediate approval to April 23, 2057. The changes ensure the Office of Elections has the necessary budget to distribute voter guides and clarify the timeline for when these new rules begin to apply.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include financial appropriations for the implementation of the voter guide requirements.

FISCAL

Added a new section appropriating state funds for the Office of Elections to print and insert additional instruction sheets into mail ballot packets.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from upon approval to April 23, 2057.

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 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 153) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

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

Jan 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors