# Hawaii SB 1515: RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Hawaii SB 1515, RELATING TO ELECTIONS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-12-08 (Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1515-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 1515
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-22
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Elections, Boards of Registration, On-Call Circuit Judge, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (27 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Allows an on-call circuit judge in the relevant circuit to perform the duties of the Board of Registration for purposes of hearing elections disputes if the Board of Registration lacks full membership. Requires the Judiciary to designate one or more on-call circuit court judges in each circuit to perform the duties of the Board of Registration for purposes of hearing elections disputes. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-27 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-06 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 2 | 1 |   |

## Actions (15)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-03-12: The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. (House)
- 2025-03-10: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-12-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-04: Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 18 (House)
- 2025-02-28: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-02-27: Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 35) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2025-02-18: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 697) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1). (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: 48 Hrs. Notice 02-27-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, Chang. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1515_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1515_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1515_.PDF)
- SB1515_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1515_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1515_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1515_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1515_.PDF)
- [SB1515_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1515_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1515-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).