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HCR 117

House concurrent resolution congratulating Essex Middle School science teacher Andrew Kasprisin on his designation as the 2025 Vermont finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Erin Brady and 10 co-sponsors

HCR 117 asks Hawaii’s Office of Elections to form a working group to study switching automatic voter registration from opt-in to opt-out, with a report due before the 2026 session.

Ceremonial Reading
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HCR 117

Summary — HCR 117 (Concurrent Resolution)

Status: Re‑Referred to GVO, WAM; introduced March 17, 2025.
Sponsors: Representative Ilagan (primary), Representative Kila (primary).
Classification: Concurrent resolution. Related: SCR 43, HR 113, HR 98.

Purpose / Intent

HCR 117 requests that the State’s Office of Elections convene a working group to study changing Hawaii’s automatic voter registration (AVR) system from the current opt‑in model to an opt‑out model. The resolution frames the change as a way to increase voter participation, improve efficiency and security of election systems, and potentially save money.

Key provisions

  • Requests the Office of Elections to convene a working group on automatic voter registration.
  • Directs the working group to make recommendations regarding changing the State’s AVR system from opt‑in to opt‑out and to propose any related legislation as appropriate.
  • Specifies membership (requested):
    1. Chief Election Officer (or designee) — requested chair;
    2. Director of Transportation (or designee);
    3. Director, Department of Customer Services, City & County of Honolulu (or designee);
    4. A representative from Common Cause Hawaii;
    5. A representative from the League of Women Voters;
    6. A representative from the Institute for Responsive Government.
  • Requires a report of findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation if any, to be submitted to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026.
  • Requests that certified copies of the concurrent resolution be transmitted to the named agencies and organizations.

Background facts cited

  • Notes that Hawaii adopted automatic voter registration in 2021 as an opt‑in system.
  • Cites low turnout in the 2024 primary (32.1% of registered voters), using that as context for advocating broader registration measures.

Who would be affected / potential impact

  • Immediate participants: Office of Elections, Department of Transportation, City & County of Honolulu Customer Services, and the named civic organizations.
  • If the working group recommends and the Legislature enacts an opt‑out AVR law, potential impacts include increased voter registration numbers, changes in agency data‑sharing or registration processes, administrative and IT work to implement opt‑out, and privacy and integrity considerations for voter rolls.
  • As a concurrent resolution, HCR 117 itself is advisory/requesting (non‑binding) — it does not by itself change law or appropriate funds.

Timeline / procedural notes

  • Working group report due no later than 20 days before the 2026 Regular Session convenes.
  • Legislative action records indicate the measure was adopted by both chambers and enrolled; committee and floor actions are documented in 2024–2025. (Note: concurrent resolutions request action and reports rather than directly amending statutes.)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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