Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week in Review

from Hawaii Family Forum, April 27, 2024

This is the second to last e-newsletter we will send out during the legislative session.  There will be one more legislative update next week and then, after that, we will return to sending out the newsletter at the end of every month.

Senate Floor Vote on Marijuana Decriminalization

Several of you emailed me to ask for the vote on SB 2487 HD1 so you could see the final vote on the Senate floor.  
The NO votes and EXCUSED are the only votes listed by name on the website.  I had to manually add the YES names based on the Senate directory and removing the NO and EXCUSED.

If you would like to thank the Senators who voted no, please see the center column below.

We understand this issue will be back in the next session, so watch for upcoming training opportunities.

YES (9)
Awa
Chang
DelaCruz
Gabbard
Ihara
Kouchi
Rhoads
San Buenaventura
Shimabukuro

NO (15)

Aquino 
DeCoite 
Elefante 
Fevella
Fukunaga 
Hashimoto 
Inouye
Kanuha 
Keohokalole 
Kidani
Kim
McKelvey
Moriwaki
Richards
Wakai

EXCUSED (1)

Lee

Minor Consent for Medical Care

SB3125 Authorizes minors who are at least fourteen years old to consent to medical care and services for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, and family planning services, including the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Requires confidentiality policies and practices for insurers and health care providers. Effective 1/1/2025. (HD2)
STATUS: Although the Senate originally disagreed to the House changes, they "reconsidered" their decision and placed the bill on the calendar for final reading.  On April 25, 2024 the bill passed on final reading.  We appreciate the NO votes of Awa, Fevella and Gabbard.

Passed Final Reading. 
Ayes, 21; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 
3 No(es): Senator(s) Awa, Fevella, Gabbard. 
1 Excused: Senator(s) Shimabukuro.

The bill will now head to the Governor for signature.

Upcoming Legislative Deadline

MAY 3 ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE – In Latin, “sine die” means “without a day specified for future meeting.” Adjournment sine die occurs on the 60th legislative day of a Regular Session and indicates a suspension of the business of the legislature indefinitely. Next, the Legislature will certify the bills whose form both chambers have agreed to and will transmit or “enroll” those bills to the Governor. 
The Public Access Room has more detailed information.  You can access that here.

Catch Up on the Faith and Family First Podcast

The current episode includes a discussion on the squatting phenomena and how it affects Hawaii law.  Or does it?

Navigating the Impact: Biden Administration's Title IX Regulations on Gender Identity

The Biden administration issued new regulations that will go into effect August 1 and include "gender identity" as a possible basis of discrimination under Title IX of the Education Amendments. The law's effects are unclear, but it could even affect state laws prohibiting coerced use of "preferred pronouns" and laws concerning bathroom and locker room usage. To read the "unofficial version," click here.

Numerous conservative groups, including Alliance Defending Freedom, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Family Research Council, Heritage Foundation, and many others, are concerned about the protections for female athletes.

“The final regulations restore and strengthen vital protections for students," Biden's Department of Education said in its press release.

Abortion, Planned Parenthood, and...

The Annual Report for Planned Parenthood for 2022-2023 was released. It highlights the organization's "healthcare" services, education programs, and advocacy efforts.

Planned Parenthood's most significant funding source is government health services reimbursements and grants. (Government Accountability Office 2023 Report -24-106215​) According to the financial data provided in their report, this funding category accounted for $699.3 million in revenue for the year ended June 30, 2023. ​ 

These reimbursements and grants come from various government programs and agencies that support "reproductive health services" and "access to healthcare" for underserved populations. ​ 

It is important to note that Planned Parenthood also receives funding from other sources, such as non-government health services revenue, private contributions and bequests, and other operating revenue. ​ However, government "health services" reimbursements and grants comprise the most significant portion of their funding. ​

Meanwhile, our pregnancy resource centers, foster care programs, and abortion regret counseling centers rely on 100% donations from the community.  If you would like to help any of the pregnancy centers, click this link.

SCOTUS Decision on Emergency Healthcare & Abortion Services
The United States Supreme Court is currently examining a case that has significant implications for emergency healthcare in 22 states, particularly those with strict abortion restrictions. Six of these states, including Idaho, lack exemptions safeguarding the mother's health. Notably, Hawaii is not part of this review, as it boasts robust protections for abortion services and providers.

During Wednesday's proceedings, the Supreme Court appeared split on the issue of whether a federal law mandating hospitals participating in Medicare to offer "necessary stabilizing treatment" in emergencies supersedes Idaho's law, which prohibits most abortions.

A decision in this case is expected sometime this summer. [Read full SCOTUS Blog]

New Quinnipiac Poll Shows Abortion Support Increased

A new Quinnipiac University poll released on April 25th shows the horrifying increase in support for abortion across the nation.

The poll shows that an alarming number of people living in the United States (66%) now support legal abortion in some or all cases. 

According to the poll, "[v]oters were asked what they would do if a family member or friend told them she plans on having an abortion. A majority (53 percent) would support her plan, while 32 percent would try to talk her out of it, and 14 percent did not offer an opinion. Asked what they would do if a family member or friend told them she plans on having an abortion after being a victim of rape or incest, 80 percent would support her plan, while 13 percent would try to talk her out of it, and 7 percent did not offer an opinion."