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Bill Summary · SB 39

Legislative bill overview

SB 39 is a Hawaii bill relating to voter registration that was introduced in the 2025 legislative session. The bill has been referred to the Education (EDU) and Judiciary/Ways and Means (JDC/WAM) committees, suggesting it may address voter registration processes, eligibility requirements, or administration. As of December 2025, it was carried over to the 2026 Regular Session without being enacted.

Why is this important

Voter registration policies directly affect democratic participation by determining who can vote and how accessible registration processes are. Changes to registration systems can impact voter turnout, election administration costs, and demographic participation rates across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Registration access vs. election security: Proposals to expand registration access (online systems, same-day registration, automatic registration) often conflict with concerns about verification procedures and preventing ineligible voters from registering
  • Committee jurisdiction: The dual referral to both Education and JDC/WAM suggests potential disagreement about whether this addresses civics/school-based registration or legal/fiscal policy matters
  • Implementation costs: Changes to voter registration systems require IT infrastructure, staff training, and administrative resources that may face budgetary resistance

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

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