# Hawaii SB 2499: RELATING TO VACANCIES.

Hawaii SB 2499, RELATING TO VACANCIES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-17 (The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2499-2026
- 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 2499
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO VACANCIES.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-03-17, The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Office of Elections Package, Vacancies, Candidates, State Senators, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (27 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Amends the processes for addressing party candidate and state senator vacancies.

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 24 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |

## Actions (15)

- 2026-03-17: The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. (House)
- 2026-03-12: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-17-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-10: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2026-03-10: Referred to JHA, referral sheet 16 (House)
- 2026-03-06: Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 58). (House)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2802) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: One Day Notice 3/06/2026. (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Chang, San Buenaventura. (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Re-Referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Referred to GVO, JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2499_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2499_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2499_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2499_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [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 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2031-2026)
- [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-SB2499-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).