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SR 75

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO ESTABLISH AND PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT FORUMS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY REGARDING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Gabbard and 1 co-sponsor

Hawaii requests Office of Hawaiian Affairs establish legislative education forums to increase Native Hawaiian participation in and understanding of the state legislative process.

Report and Resolution Adopted as amended (SD1). Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa).
#legislativeengagementforums #officeofhawaiianaffairs
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Bill Summary · SR 75

Legislative bill overview

SR 75 requests that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) establish and conduct legislative engagement forums designed to educate Native Hawaiians about how the state legislative process works. The resolution passed the Senate committee with amendments on April 2, 2025, and was adopted on April 3, with only one opposing vote.

Why is this important

Civic participation and understanding of government processes are foundational to democratic engagement. This resolution addresses a potential gap in legislative literacy within the Native Hawaiian community, potentially increasing informed participation in policy decisions that affect their rights and interests. The OHA is the state agency specifically tasked with serving Native Hawaiian interests, making it a logical vehicle for this educational initiative.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource allocation and capacity: The bill requests OHA to establish forums but does not specify funding, staffing, or timeline, raising questions about whether OHA has the resources to execute this mandate effectively without diverting funds from existing programs
  • Definition and scope ambiguity: The resolution doesn't define what "legislative engagement forums" entails—whether these are one-time events, ongoing programs, online platforms, or in-person workshops—potentially limiting accountability for outcomes
  • Senator Awa's opposition: One senator voted against the measure, though the record doesn't explain the reasoning, suggesting internal disagreement about the approach or OHA's role in this function

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

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