RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS.

Budget Elections

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: PIERICK
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on the amount of money appropriated or its exact use.

Rules for Neighborhood Boards

This bill sets rules for neighborhood boards in counties, requiring one-year term limits for board members and allowing residents to vote both online and in person.

What This Bill Does

Sets a one-year limit on how long people can serve as members of neighborhood boards.
Allows neighborhood residents to vote for their board members both online and in person.
Requires the Office of Elections to receive reports from counties about these rules.

Who It Names or Affects

Counties that have neighborhood boards
Residents who live in neighborhoods with boards

Terms To Know

neighborhood board: A group of people chosen by their neighbors to help make decisions for the area they live in.
Office of Elections: The government office that handles voting and elections.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how much money is appropriated or exactly what it will be used for.
Only applies to counties with existing neighborhood boards, so some areas might not be affected.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-27 H
Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 4
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS.
Counties; Neighborhood Boards; Members; Elections; Appropriations ($)
Requires counties that use neighborhood boards to ensure that: (1) Board member terms do not exceed one year; and (2) Neighborhood residents may vote for members of their corresponding neighborhood board by electronic means and in-person means. Requires certain reports to and from the Office of Elections. Appropriates moneys.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1395

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1395

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION
1.
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Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

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"
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Reports
from neighborhood boards; elections.
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(a)
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The office of elections shall receive reports
submitted to the office by counties pursuant to section 46-
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.
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The
chief election officer shall inform the legislature regarding any county's
noncompliance with section 46-
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.
"

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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to part V to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

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"
�46-
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Neighborhood
boards; elections.
�
(a)
�

A county that uses neighborhood boards shall revise its charter,
neighborhood plan, or ordain ordinances, as appropriate, and take necessary
action
to ensure that
:

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(1)
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A term of any neighborhood board member shall not exceed a
period of one year;

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(2)
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Eligible voters in a neighborhood may vote
for members of their corresponding neighborhood board by electronic means and
in-person means.

����
(b)
�
Each county subject to this section shall
issue timely reports to the office of elections regarding the county's
compliance with this section.

����
(c)
�
For the purposes of this section,
"neighborhood board" means any neighborhood board that is subject to
part VII of chapter 92.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
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or so much thereof as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for costs relating to compliance with
this Act.

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The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the
city and county of Honolulu for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Counties;
Neighborhood Boards; Members; Elections; Appropriations

Description:

Requires
counties that use neighborhood boards to ensure that:
�
(1) Board member terms do not exceed one
year; and (2) Neighborhood residents may vote for members of their
corresponding neighborhood board by electronic means and in‑person means.
�
Requires certain reports to and from the
Office of Elections.
�
Appropriates
moneys.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.