NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL: February 23 - 27, 2015
From Hawaii Family Advocates, February 28, 2015
Marijuana Dispensaries & Decriminalization
The Senate Judiciary committee deferred two bills (SB 666 & SB 708 ) relating to the decriminalization of marijuana on February 26, 2015, but they passed SB 879 out of committee. The members of the committee who voted in favor of the measure are: Senator(s) Keith-Agaran, Shimabukuro, Espero, Gabbard, L. Thielen, Slom. Senator Les Ihara was excused. The bill will now go to the full Senate for a vote. Click here to take action in opposition.
The House Finance Committee heard HB 321 (relating to marijuana dispensaries) on Friday, February 27, 2015. They have deferred decision making until Tuesday, March 3, 2015 (11:05 a.m. in room #308). Although the House Health Committee and the House Judiciary Committee attempted to take many of the community concerns into consideration when they amended the bill on February 17, 2015, there are still many flaws in the legislation. The bill, if passed by the House Finance Committee, will move to the full House for a vote. Click here to take action in opposition.
Birth Certificate Change
The House Judiciary committee passed HB 631 out of committee on February 24, 2015. The vote was as follows: Voting in Support: Representative(s) Rhoads, San Buenaventura, Belatti, Brower, Creagan, Hashem, C. Lee, Morikawa, Nakashima, Takayama, Woodson, Thielen; Support with reservations: Representative(s) Kawakami. Representative McDermott was excused. The bill will now move to the full House for a vote. Click here to take action in opposition.
Sex Education Curriculum
The House Education Committee passed HB 459 (with amendments) on February 25, 2015. The vote was as follows: Voting in Support: Representative(s) Takumi, Ohno, Aquino, Choy, Ichiyama, Ing, LoPresti, Say, Tsuji; Support with reservations: Representative(s) Kong, Matsumoto; Voting in opposition: Representative(s) Tupola. Representative Ito was excused. The bill will now move to the full House for a vote.
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