# Hawaii SB 2016: RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES.

Hawaii SB 2016, RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-01-30 (Re-Referred to JDC.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2016-2026
- 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 2016
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-01-30, Re-Referred to JDC.
- Sponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Legislature, Senators, Representatives, Vacancies, Appointments, Term, JDC
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes that if the death or permanent incapacitation of the prior incumbent leaves a legislative seat vacant before a primary election, but after the close of filing for candidacy in that election, and the prior incumbent's name was the only name on any ballot for that seat for that election, the Governor's appointment of a replacement shall be valid for both the unexpired term and the succeeding term.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (4)

- 2026-01-30: Re-Referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to GVO, JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2016_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2016_.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/SB2016_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2016_.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)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2016-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).