SR 9 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION TO AMEND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND GENDER IDENTITY IN EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, EDUCATION, FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS, CREDIT, AND JURY SERVICE.

This is a Senate resolution (SR 9), not a bill that would become law. It requests the U.S. Congress to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in eight key areas: employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federally funded programs, credit, and jury service. The resolution cites Hawaii's existing state protections for LGBTQ+ individuals and notes that federal law currently lacks such comprehensive coverage. As a resolution, it does not change any laws but formally urges Congress to take action on the Equality Act.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action May 12, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
5
Committee
5
Apr 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report and Resolution Adopted.
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from EIG/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3565) with recommendation of adoption.
upper
Apr 7, 2026
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, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Awa.
upper
Apr 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in EIG were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
upper
Apr 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on EIG/JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 04-07-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to EIG/JDC.
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Introduced
Offered.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Karl Rhoads
Karl Rhoads
DDemocratic
HI
13