SB2143 • 2026

RELATING TO THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER.

Elections

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: RHOADS, CHANG, FEVELLA, HASHIMOTO, RICHARDS, San Buenaventura
Last action: 2026-05-26
Official status: Act 025, on 05/22/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1125).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Official sources do not provide specific details on timelines or consequences if the Attorney General cannot serve as Interim Chief Election Officer.

Order of Succession for Chief Election Officer

This law establishes an order of succession to appoint the Attorney General as Interim Chief Election Officer until a new Chief Election Officer is chosen by the Elections Commission when there's a vacancy.

What This Bill Does

Establishes an order of succession for an Interim Chief Election Officer in case of a vacancy in the position of Chief Election Officer.
Specifies that the Attorney General will serve as the Interim Chief Election Officer until the Elections Commission appoints a new Chief Election Officer.

Who It Names or Affects

The Elections Commission
The Chief Election Officer
The Attorney General

Terms To Know

Chief Election Officer: A person in charge of overseeing elections and election-related activities.
Elections Commission: An organization responsible for appointing the Chief Election Officer and managing election processes.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if the Attorney General is also unavailable.
The exact timeline for when a new Chief Election Officer must be appointed is not detailed.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB2143 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2143 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2143 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2143 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2143 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2143 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2143 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2143 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2143 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER .

Bill History

2026-05-26 H
Act 025, on 05/22/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1125).
2026-05-26 S
Act 025, 05/22/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1125).
2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-07 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Reyes Oda, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Hartsfield, Kila, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (9) and none excused (0).
2026-05-05 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 814).
2026-05-01 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, Fevella). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fukunaga).
2026-05-01 H
Deferred one day 05-06-26.
2026-04-29 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 05-01-26.
2026-04-29 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 26-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-04-29 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-26.
2026-04-29 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 26-26).
2026-04-27 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Belatti, Poepoe; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-27 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.
2026-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-27-26 2:20PM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-22 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 723).
2026-04-22 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Chang, Gabbard, Fevella.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas Chair; Belatti, Poepoe, Garcia.
2026-04-10 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).
2026-04-07 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-07 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 473).
2026-04-06 H
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Kila, Reyes Oda, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (6) and Representative(s) Cochran, Olds, Quinlan excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-01 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with Representative(s) Matsumoto, Reyes Oda, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (6) and none excused (0).
2026-04-01 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1590-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-03-17 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: none; 3 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; and Excused: none.
2026-03-12 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-17-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 178) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-10 S
Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-05 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-05 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).
2026-03-05 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2806) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-02-18 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura.
2026-02-11 S
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-26 9:05AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-04 S
Re-Referred to JDC.
2026-01-22 S
Referred to GVO, JDC.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-14 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER.
Elections Commission; Chief Election Officer; Vacancy; Order of Succession
Establishes an order of succession for an Interim Chief Election Officer in the event of a vacancy in the position of Chief Election Officer until the Elections Commission appoints a new Chief Election Officer. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2143

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2143

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 11-1.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

����
"(a)
�

The chief election officer shall be appointed by the elections
commission, without regard to chapter 76.
�

The appointment shall not be subject to the advice and consent of the
senate.
�
In the event of a vacancy[
,
the
]
:

����
(1)
�
The

elections commission shall meet expeditiously to select and appoint a new chief
election officer to serve the remainder of the unexpired term[
.
]
; and

����
(2)
�
Notwithstanding
any law to the contrary, the attorney general shall serve as the interim chief
election officer until the elections commission appoints a new chief election
officer.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�

This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that
were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

����
SECTION 3.
�

Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

AG; Elections
Commission; Chief Election Officer; Vacancy

Description:

Provides
that, in the event of a vacancy in the position of Chief Election Officer, the Attorney
General shall serve as the Interim Chief Election Officer until the Elections Commission
appoints a new Chief Election Officer.

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