WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 1594

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 4, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH LEGISLATIVE TERM LIMITS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brenton Awa and 2 co-sponsors

Hawaii constitutional amendment establishing legislative term limits, requiring legislature passage and voter referendum approval to restrict legislator tenures in the state capitol.

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
#constitutionalamendment(conam) #legislativetermlimits
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1594

Legislative bill overview

SB 1594 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish term limits for members of the Hawaii State Legislature. The bill modifies Article III, Section 4 of the Hawaii Constitution to restrict how long legislators can serve in their respective chambers. This requires passage by the legislature and voter approval via referendum to take effect.

Why is this important

Term limits would fundamentally reshape Hawaii's legislative landscape by potentially removing experienced legislators and changing incumbent advantage dynamics. This affects representation stability, institutional knowledge, and the balance of power between long-serving legislators and new voices in the Capitol.

Potential points of contention

  • Institutional experience loss: Opponents argue term limits eliminate seasoned legislators who understand complex policy-making and budget processes, potentially reducing legislative effectiveness
  • Democratic representation debate: Supporters contend term limits prevent entrenched power and increase electoral competitiveness; opponents argue voters already have term limits through elections
  • Specific limits undefined: The bill text doesn't specify proposed term lengths (e.g., 8 years, 12 years), making it unclear how restrictive the amendment would actually be

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

Sign in to ask a question.