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SB 2766

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES II, III, AND XVII OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE THE ELECTORATE WITH THE POWER OF INITIATIVE.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jarrett Keohokalole and 1 co-sponsor

Constitutional amendment granting Hawaii voters direct initiative power to propose and enact legislation, bypassing the legislature on certain policy matters.

Referred to JDC, WAM.
#constitutionalamendment #directinitiative(conam) #electorate
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Bill Summary · SB 2766

Legislative bill overview

SB 2766 proposes constitutional amendments to Articles II, III, and XVII of the Hawaii State Constitution to establish a citizen initiative process, allowing voters to directly propose and enact legislation without legislative approval. This would grant Hawaiian citizens the power of direct democracy similar to systems used in other states like California and Oregon.

Why is this important

Hawaii is one of only a few U.S. states without a citizen initiative process, meaning voters cannot directly propose laws—only the legislature can. This amendment would fundamentally shift power from elected representatives to the electorate, potentially enabling citizens to bypass legislative gridlock on issues like taxation, environmental protection, or healthcare, but also creating pathways for ballot measures that legislatures opposed.

Potential points of contention

  • Unintended consequences of direct democracy: Poorly drafted citizen initiatives could create legal or budgetary chaos; voters may lack expertise on complex policy matters that legislators typically vet
  • Circumventing democratic representation: The initiative power could undermine the legislative process and elected officials' accountability, allowing special interests with funding to shape law through ballot campaigns
  • Implementation details unclear: The bill's specific mechanisms are not detailed in this summary—thresholds for signatures, voting percentages, ballot access costs, and provisions preventing frivolous measures remain critical unknowns

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

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