HB1551 • 2026

RELATING TO THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER.

Elections

Active

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

Sponsor: TARNAS, AMATO, BELATTI, ILAGAN, KUSCH, LOWEN, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, PERRUSO, POEPOE, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA, TAM
Last action: 2026-01-26
Official status: Referred to LAB, JHA, referral sheet 1
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on performance evaluations after general elections, which were included in the candidate explanation.

Rules for the Chief Elections Officer

This bill specifies that after passing a probationary period, the Chief Election Officer can only be fired if there is a good reason.

What This Bill Does

Changes Hawaii Revised Statutes section 11-7.5 to state that once the Chief Election Officer passes their probationary period, they may only be terminated for cause.

Who It Names or Affects

The Chief Election Officer in Hawaii
The Elections Commission

Terms To Know

Probationary period: A trial time for a new job where the person can be let go if they do not meet expectations.
Termination for cause: Being fired from a job because of specific reasons, like breaking rules or poor performance.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not define what 'good reason' means for firing the Chief Election Officer.
It is unclear how this change will affect current chief election officers who have already passed their probationary period.

Bill History

2026-01-26 H
Referred to LAB, JHA, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-15 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER.
Elections Commission; Chief Election Officer; Termination
Specifies that the Chief Election office who passes the standard state probationary period may only be terminated for cause.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1551

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1551

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 11-7.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�11-7.5
�
Duties of the elections
commission.
�
The duties of the
elections commission are to:

����
(1)
�
Hold
public hearings;

����
(2)
�
Investigate
and hold hearings for receiving evidence of any violations and complaints;

����
(3)
�
Adopt
rules pursuant to chapter 91;

����
(4)
�
Employ,
without regard to chapter 76, a full-time chief election officer, pursuant to
section 11-1.6;
provided that the chief election officer who passes the
standard state probationary period may only be terminated for cause;

����
(5)
�
Conduct a performance evaluation of the
chief election officer within two months after the date a general election is
certified;

����
(6)
�
Hold a public hearing on the
performance of the chief election officer and consider the information gathered
at the hearing in deliberations on the chief election officer's reappointment;
provided
that the chief election officer who passes the standard state probationary
period may only be terminated for cause;
and

����
(7)
�
Advise the chief election officer on
matters relating to elections."

����
SECTION 2.
�

New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Elections Commission; Chief Election Officer; Termination

Description:

Specifies that the Chief Election office who passes the
standard state probationary period may only be terminated for cause.

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