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HB 2620

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS FOR REFERENDUM.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terez Amato

HB 2620 proposes a constitutional amendment establishing formal referendum procedures to allow Hawaii voters to directly approve or reject legislation and constitutional matters.

Referred to LMG, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 6
#constitutionalamendment #legislativereferendum(conam)
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Bill Summary · HB 2620

Legislative bill overview

HB 2620 proposes a constitutional amendment to Hawaii that would establish a formal process for conducting referendums in the state. The bill aims to create clearer procedures and mechanisms for citizens or the legislature to place measures directly before voters for approval or rejection. This would modify Hawaii's current constitutional framework regarding direct democracy.

Why is this important

Hawaii currently lacks a comprehensive constitutional referendum process, limiting direct voter input on major state decisions. Establishing such a process could significantly expand citizen participation in governance and create new pathways for policy decisions to bypass or supplement traditional legislative action. This touches fundamental questions about how power is distributed between elected officials, voters, and the state constitution itself.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and triggers: Disagreement over which types of legislation or constitutional questions would qualify for referendum, and what percentage of voters or legislators would be required to trigger one
  • Implementation costs and timeline: Concerns about the fiscal burden of holding additional referendums and practical challenges of scheduling them alongside regular elections
  • Legislative authority concerns: Debate over whether expanded referendum powers would undermine legislative authority and create governance gridlock if voters frequently overturn legislative decisions

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

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