Hawaii SB121: Proposing an amendment to article vi, section 3, of the hawaii state constitution to allow the senate more time to confirm judicial appointments

What the bill says

A bill for an act proposing an amendment to article vi, section 3, of the hawaii state constitution to allow the senate more time to confirm judicial appointments.

From the introduced text:

A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW THE SENATE MORE TIME TO CONFIRM JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hawaii State Constitution requires the senate to act within thirty days upon receipt of a judicial appointment. The legislature further finds that judicial appointments can, and have been, made throughout the year including during the interim when the senate is not in session, thus requiring the senate to call itself back to convene a special session to consider those appointments. In recent years, the timing of judicial appointments has necessitated two special sessions and, in 2022, three special sessions. Due to the thirty-day window, some special sessions have addressed just one or two appointments. Additionally, some special sessions have occurred in mid- or late November, not far from the start of the legislative session in January. Each special session costs approximately $5,000 for airfare and per diem for neighbor island senators, in addition to senator and staff time. 2025-0173 SB SMA-2.docx Page 2 S.B. NO. The legislature concludes that lengthening the period of time allowed for the senate to consider judicial appointments made when the senate is not in regular session or is about to adjourn the regular session will provide flexibility in the scheduling …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Karl Rhoads (D, 13) · primary sponsor
• Dru Kanuha (D, 3)
• Michelle Kidani (D, 18)

Latest actions

1. April 4, 2025: Enrolled to Governor.
2. April 4, 2025: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 560).
3. April 4, 2025: Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (6) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
4. April 4, 2025: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1965), recommending passage on Third Reading.
5. March 31, 2025: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Holt, Ward.
6. March 28, 2025: Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-31-25 3:15PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
7. March 18, 2025: Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Alcos, Matsumoto, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
8. March 18, 2025: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1291), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
9. March 11, 2025: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
10. March 10, 2025: Notice of bill proposing constitutional amendment transmitted to Governor pursuant to Article XVII, Section 3 (Sen. Com. No. 1).

Votes

• recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (April 4, 2025): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
• recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 18, 2025): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM (March 11, 2025): 0 yea, 0 nay, passed
• recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 4, 2025): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM (February 26, 2025): 0 yea, 0 nay, passed
• recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (February 4, 2025): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB121?

SB121 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Proposing an amendment to article vi, section 3, of the hawaii state constitution to allow the senate more time to confirm judicial appointments .

What does SB121 do?

In its own words: A bill for an act proposing an amendment to article vi, section 3, of the hawaii state constitution to allow the senate more time to confirm judicial appointments.

What is the status of SB121?

In committee as of April 4, 2025. Latest action: Enrolled to Governor. (April 4, 2025).

Who sponsored SB121?

Karl Rhoads (D, 13), with 2 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB121?

On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=121&year=2025