# Hawaii SB 2735: RELATING TO ELECTION WATCHERS.

Hawaii SB 2735, RELATING TO ELECTION WATCHERS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Karl Rhoads (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-01-30 (Referred to EIG, JDC.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2735-2026
- 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 2735
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO ELECTION WATCHERS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-01-30, Referred to EIG, JDC.
- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Elections, Election Watchers, News Media, EIG, JDC
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Specifies that each qualified political party may have one election watcher. Allows the news media to act as election watchers. Allows the clerk to permit additional election watchers. Specifies conditions for election watchers while serving. Effective 8/9/2026.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (3)

- 2026-01-30: Referred to EIG, JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2735_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2735_.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/SB2735_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2735_.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-SB2735-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).