# Hawaii SB 1557: PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PROVIDE FOR A CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY TO PROPOSE TO THE LEGISLATURE CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY REVISIONS OR AMENDMENTS TO THE LAWS GOVERNING ELECTIONS, POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, CAMPAIGN FINANCE, ETHICS, REFERENDUM, REAPPORTIONMENT, LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

Hawaii SB 1557, PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PROVIDE FOR A CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY TO PROPOSE TO THE LEGISLATURE CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY REVISIONS OR AMENDMENTS TO THE LAWS GOVERNING ELECTIONS, POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, CAMPAIGN FINANCE, ETHICS, REFERENDUM, REAPPORTIONMENT, LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Les Ihara Jr. (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-SB1557-2026
- 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 1557
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PROVIDE FOR A CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY TO PROPOSE TO THE LEGISLATURE CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY REVISIONS OR AMENDMENTS TO THE LAWS GOVERNING ELECTIONS, POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, CAMPAIGN FINANCE, ETHICS, REFERENDUM, REAPPORTIONMENT, LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-22
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Les Ihara Jr. (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Constitutional Amendment, Citizens' Assembly, JDC, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Proposes a constitutional amendment to provide for a citizens' assembly and to authorize the citizens' assembly to propose to the Legislature constitutional and statutory revisions or amendments to the laws governing elections, political campaigns, campaign finance, ethics, referendum, reapportionment, legislative process, and public access to information.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Les Ihara Jr. (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (4)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-01-27: Referred to JDC, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1557_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1557_.pdf)

## 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
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1557_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1557_.pdf)

## 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)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1557-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).