# Hawaii SB 176: RELATING TO RECOUNTS.

Hawaii SB 176, RELATING TO RECOUNTS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Karl Rhoads (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-06-25 (Act 226, 06/25/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1328).) (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB176-2025
- As of: 2026-10-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 176
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO RECOUNTS.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-13
- Last action: 2025-06-25, Act 226, 06/25/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1328).
- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Elections, Recounts, Initial Tabulation, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (190 yes, 22 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Allows for ballots designated by the county clerks for inclusion to be included in the initial tabulation for purposes of initial recounts. Prohibits ballots that the county clerks initially determine are deficient or need additional time to be corrected or verified from being included in the initial tabulation. Increases the minimum threshold required to trigger an automatic recount. (CD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-30 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 22 | 3 |   |
| 2025-04-30 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 45 | 5 |   |
| 2025-04-22 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-22 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 2 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-02 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 43 | 7 |   |
| 2025-03-31 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 44 | 3 |   |
| 2025-03-12 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 7 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 21 | 3 |   |
| 2025-02-05 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 1 |   |

## Actions (39)

- 2025-06-25: Act 226, 06/25/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1328). (Senate)
- 2025-06-25: Act 226, on 06/25/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1328). (House)
- 2025-05-02: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821). (Senate)
- 2025-05-02: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888). (House)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Reyes Oda voting no (5) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). (House)
- 2025-04-24: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 11). (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 11) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2025-04-24: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25. (House)
- 2025-04-22: The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang. (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-04-17: Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Chang, Gabbard. (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 825). (House)
- 2025-04-17: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-21-25 2:00PM; Conference Room 325. (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 731). (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas Chair; Poepoe, Shimizu. (House)
- 2025-04-03: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 431). (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 481). (House)
- 2025-04-02: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting no (7) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-03-31: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1720) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-03-31: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with Representative(s) Alcos, Matsumoto, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Hussey, Lowen, Ward excused (4). (House)
- 2025-03-12: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Garcia. (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)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to JHA, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 21; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Chang). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 105) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 811) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1). (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang. (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Re-Referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Referred to JDC, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB176_CD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB176_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1328_.PDF)
- SB176_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB176_CD1_.HTM)
- SB176_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB176_HD1_.HTM)
- SB176_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB176_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)
- SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)
- SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE. (signed)
- SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT. (signed)
- HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB176_CD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB176_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1328_.PDF)
- [SB176_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB176_CD1_.HTM)
- [SB176_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB176_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB176_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB176_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1044-2025)
- [SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1231-2025)
- [SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB935-2025)
- [HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB703-2025)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB176-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).