REQUESTING THE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO AMEND ITS INTERNAL RULES TO ELIMINATE THE FORMAL VOTE OPTION OF "WITH RESERVATIONS".

SR142

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

142

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
HAWAII TO AMEND ITS INTERNAL RULES TO ELIMINATE THE FORMAL VOTE OPTION OF "WITH
RESERVATIONS"
.

����
WHEREAS, at
the start of each biennium, each chamber of the Legislature adopts its own set
of procedural rules setting out how votes are taken, what options members have,
and how votes are formally recorded; and

WHEREAS, both chambers of the
Hawaii State Legislature currently permit members to vote "aye" or
"no" on a measure, in addition to voting "with
reservations"; and

����
WHEREAS, Rule
71(1) of the 2025-2026 Rules of the Senate states "a member voting
"with reservations" shall be counted as a favorable vote"; and

WHEREAS, Rule 11.6(2) of the
2025-2026 Rules of the House of Representatives specifies for committee
decision making "any member voting "with reservations" shall be
deemed to be in favor of the recommendation" with the same holding true in
practice for floor votes, though not explicitly stated; and

WHEREAS, while "with
reservations" votes allow members to keep a bill alive while still
indicating their lack of total support, it oftentimes is employed to avoid having
to record a clear stance; and

����
WHEREAS, the
76 members of the Hawaii State Legislature are expected by their constituencies
to vote for or against policies, yet the lack of a binary vote requirement lets
legislators straddle both sides of an issue; and

����
WHEREAS, the
Hawaii State Legislature is unique in that it is the only state legislature
which permits "with reservations" as a formal vote; and

����
WHEREAS, with
the start of the Thirty-Fourth Legislature occurring in a few months' time, this
voting method which sets us apart from the rest of the nation will again be
reconsidered; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, that members of the Thirty-Fourth Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2027, are requested to amend the internal
rules of both chambers to eliminate the formal vote option of "with
reservations"; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Senate Chief Clerk and House Chief Clerk are to send copies
of this Resolution upon official certification of the 2026 general election
results to all duly elected members of the Legislature; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Senate Chief Clerk and House Chief Clerk are to also send
copies of this Resolution to the 12 members of the Hawaii State Senate whose
terms continue into the Thirty-Fourth Legislature at this same time; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Senate
Chief Clerk and the House Chief Clerk.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

Thirty-Fourth
Legislature; Voting; With Reservations