SB 5 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES.

Summary

Establishes that if a state legislative vacancy occurs due to the death or permanent incapacitation of the prior incumbent before a primary election, but after the close of filing for that election, and the prior incumbent was the only person whose name appeared on any ballot for that seat for that election, the Governor's appointment of a replacement shall be valid for both the unexpired term and the next succeeding term. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB5 → SB5_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from SB5 to SB5 SD1 and updated with new metadata, including a future effective date of January 1, 2525. The core legislative text regarding legislative vacancy appointments was restructured and modified to clarify the process for appointing replacements when a vacancy occurs due to death or permanent incapacitation. Specific wording changes were made to ensure the appointee meets residency and party affiliation requirements, and the conditions under which an appointment extends to the next term were refined.

Scope change

The bill's substantive scope regarding vacancy appointments remains focused on the State Senate and State House of Representatives, but the text was reorganized into new sections (17-3 and 17-4) with modified language to clarify eligibility and procedural steps.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from 'upon approval' to a specific future date of January 1, 2525.

REQUIREMENT

The text for Senate vacancies was restructured to explicitly require the appointee to be a resident of the same senate district and a member of the same political party as the prior incumbent.

The text for House vacancies was similarly restructured to require the appointee to be a resident of the same state representative district and a member of the same political party.

SCOPE

The conditions for an appointment to cover both the unexpired term and the next succeeding term were clarified to apply specifically when the vacancy is due to death or permanent incapacitation occurring after filing but before a primary election.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was updated to include 'Term' and the description was expanded to explicitly state the effective date and bill number.

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

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to LMG, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 62) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-21-25 10:20AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 182) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to GVO, JDC.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 8, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors