2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION - WEEK 2
From Honolulu Republican Party, February 2, 2020
In the News
2020 March for Life (January 22, 2020) - The March for Life event attracted about 650 people from religious groups, elementary schools and nonprofit organizations. The gathering came less than a week before the 47th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which established a woman’s legal right to an abortion. This year’s theme was “Ohana begins with conception.”
The event was co-sponsored by Hawaii Life Alliance and Diocesan Respect Life. Janet Hochberg, executive director of Hawaii Life Alliance, said the rally was to encourage anti-abortion advocates and key lawmakers to consider alternatives. “We raise our voice,” Hochberg said in an interview. “We raise them passionately and nonjudgmentally. We raise them because we know many young girls and women have been affected by abortions.”
Second Amendment Rally (January 30, 2020) - Hawaii 2nd Amendment Advocates rallied at the State Capitol. Gun control laws in the islands routinely rank among the toughest in the nation. Yet here we are in another legislative session, and Hawaii's lawmakers make you think we need more. Regardless of the fact that we have more guns than people, but with that, we also have the lowest rate of homicide with firearms.
Themes for the rally included:
Be tough on crime
Support the right to self-defense
Block potential legislation proposals
Support good legislation
Trump Rally (January 31, 2020) - Sign-wavers at Hawaii’s State Capitol were thrilled that Republicans secured enough votes to block witness testimony seen as damaging to President Trump in the impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate.
Other News
HFP - Why Do Lawmakers Want More Special Funds?
Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week In Review
Grassroot Institute - Hawaii GET Adds $220M to Healthcare Costs!
Tax Foundation Hawaii - Proposal Could Hand New Property Tax Authority To School Board For Teacher Salaries
HFP - 2020 Mayoral Race in Fundraising
CB - Honolulu Prosecutor’s Race In Campaign Cash
Office of Elections - Candidate Filing Opens for the 2020 Elections
Hawaii Votes by Mail - UPDATE
Election Officials Announce Voting by Mail - Find out more HERE.
ALERT - If you haven't received the postcard, you should check your voter registration by visiting www.olvr.hawaii.gov or by calling the County Elections Division.
MEASURE TRACKING
Full Honolulu County Republican Party Legislation Tracking Report - https://legiscan.com/reports/zsg9f4br
Top Legislation Tracking Report - https://legiscan.com/reports/1wtwkzy9
Second Amendment Legislation Tracking Report - https://legiscan.com/reports/68kkx9hi (Mahalo to our friends at the Hawaii Firearms Coalition)
Voting Legislation Tracking Report - https://legiscan.com/reports/f9zw104w.
HEARING NOTICES
Your voice and opinions are powerful. Your legislators were elected to represent your concerns. It is up to you to voice concerns and to make your voice heard. If you take the time to convey your thoughts to your elected officials and follow up with them, your message will have great impact, but everyone must get involved.
See the Honolulu County Republican Party committee report here https://legiscan.com/reports/xpy54f4x (as of January 31). Check back often for committee updates so you can submit your testimony.
GREEN = Support
RED = Oppose
BLUE = Undecided
Make sure you don’t miss a chance to offer testimony on bills that interest you. List of present and future hearings can be found at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/upcominghearingsfiltered.aspx.
TESTIMONY
Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the House or Senate should be delivered at least 24 hours prior to the hearing and may be submitted in person, by fax, or electronically as indicated on the hearing notice.
Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the House or Senate may be submitted electronically through the Hawaii State Legislature's website at www.capitol.hawaii.gov by clicking on the button marked "Submit Testimony" and following the on-screen instructions.
Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the Senate may also be faxed to 586-6659 (Oahu) or 1-800-586-6659 (Neighbor Islands).
SENATE HEARING LATE TESTIMONY - Testimony received after the 24-hour deadline will be posted to the Capitol website within 24 hours after the hearing has adjourned and may be marked as "late".
HOUSE HEARING LATE TESTIMONY - Staff will try to incorporate additional testimony received within 24 hours of the hearing if possible. The hearing committee will post testimony received "on-time" to the Capitol website at the beginning of the hearing. Testimony received after the 24-hour deadline may be marked as "late" but will be posted to the Capitol website as soon as possible following the hearing. Testimony submitted after the hearing will not be considered or posted.
LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR
FEB 6 – TRIPLE REFERRAL FILING (BILLS) – All bills referred to three or more committees must be filed so that they can be in their second-to-last committee by the following day. (Note: A referral to a joint committee counts as one committee referral.) This deadline allows ample time for successful bills to make their way to the last committee in their originating chamber by the First Lateral deadline.
FEB 14 – FIRST LATERAL (BILLS) – All bills referred to more than one committee (i.e., those with multiple referrals) must move to their final committee in the originating chamber by this day.
FEB 20 – 26 MANDATORY 5-DAY RECESS – Hawaii’s Constitution mandates a 5-day recess between the 20th and 40th days of the regular session. Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate convene or assemble formally in chamber on recess days. Committee hearings do take place.
FEB 28 – FIRST DECKING (BILLS) – Deadline for bills to emerge from all their committees (with committee reports filed) and be submitted to the clerk of the originating chamber. This “decking” ensures a mandatory 48 hour opportunity for final review by the chamber’s members before they are asked to vote on the third reading. Note: A bill must pass three readings (votes) in each chamber before being enrolled to the governor.
Full Calendar is available HERE.