from Hawaii Family Forum, March 14, 2025

In 1970, Hawaii became the first state to decriminalize abortion with the enactment of Act 1, Session Laws of Hawaii, which amended Chapter 768 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Over 220,000 babies have lost their lives since then. Here's something to think about, between 2012-2022 (last year reported), these children lost their lives:

• Caucasian Babies 5,820
• Native Hawaiian Babies 3,668
• Filipino Babies 2,482
• Other Asian Babies 2,348
• All Other Babies 1,613
• Other Pacific Islander Babies 1,349
• Japanese Babies 1,224
• Black Babies 1,045
• Chinese Babies 799

SOURCE: Hawaii State Department of Health (2024, July 1). Induced Terminations of Pregnancy (ITOPs) in Hawaii. Hawaii Health Data Warehouse.  Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://hhdw.org/data-sources/death-data/itops-data/

This Week in Hawai'i

Sports Betting Bill Passes Joint Senate Committee

HB1308 HD3 was heard in a joint committee of the Senate Economic Development & Tourism and the Senate Consumer Protection on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Hawaii Family Forum submitted testimony in opposition.  We are very disappointed that NONE of these Senators had the courage to vote NO.

The votes in CPN were as follows: 

• 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Awa; 
• 2 Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Richards
• 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.

The votes in EDT were as follows:

• 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Awa; 
• 2 Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kim

STATUS:  The bill will now head to the Senate Ways & Means Committee.  Click here for more information.

GOOD NEWS: Constitutional Amendment to Protect Access to Contraceptives Misses Deadline

On March 10, 2025, a notice of bill proposing constitutional amendment transmitted to Governor pursuant to Article XVII, Section 3 (Sen. Com. No. 1).  (This is standard for all constitutional amendments).  This bill faced a triple referral, with the Senate Health Committee as its first stop. March 13, 2025, marked the Second Triple Referral Filing Deadline—a critical point where all bills referred to three or more committees must be filed to advance to their second-to-last committee in the non-originating chamber by the following day.

Fortunately, this bill missed the deadline and is considered dead for this session. However, it’s important to note that it can—and likely will—be reintroduced in the 2026 legislative session, picking up right where it left off.

That’s why it’s crucial for us to remain vigilant and prepared. We’ll continue monitoring this issue closely and keep you informed of any developments.

Upcoming Legislative Deadlines

MAR 20 SECOND LATERAL FILING (BILLS) – Filing Deadline for Second Lateral Bills 

MAR 21 SECOND LATERAL (BILLS) – All bills with multiple referrals must move to their final referral committee in the non-originating chamber by this date. 

MAR 24 (SENATE) & 28 (HOUSE) FIRST LATERAL FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS – Concurrent resolutions require adoption in each chamber and are used to state the official position of the Legislature on an issue, or to request action formally without having to mandate it by law. All concurrent resolutions with multiple referrals must move to their final committee in the originating chamber by this date. 

APR 3 FIRST CROSSOVER FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS – Deadline for passing the single reading required for resolutions in order to move from the originating chamber to the other chamber. 

APR 4 SECOND DECKING (BILLS) – Deadline for submitting bills that have been amended by the non-originating chamber to emerge from all their committees (with committee reports filed) and be submitted to the clerk of that chamber. This “decking” ensures a mandatory 48-hour opportunity for final review by the non-originating chamber’s members before third reading.

Across the Nation

Conversion Therapy Ban

The North Dakota Senate is considering legislation to allow social workers to offer conversion therapy. The measure has already passed the state House. (Fargo Forum) 

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge to Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy, a year after refusing to hear a challenge to a similar law in Washington State. (SCOTUSblog). The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to weigh in on the constitutionality of Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” – that is, the effort to “convert” someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. That announcement came as part of a list of orders released on Monday morning from the justices’ private conference last week.

Less than a year and a half ago, the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a Washington state law that prohibits licensed therapists from practicing conversion therapy on children. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the decision not to weigh in then, indicating that they would have granted review. On Monday, the justices agreed to take up a challenge to a similar ban, this time from Colorado. [Read full article here.]

Note that Hawaii passed it's "conversion therapy" ban in 2018 and Hawaii Family Forum was one of the few organizations to stand against its passage.  We are waiting to see the outcome of this case to decide if lawsuits may come of it.

Covenant Journey Academy Sides With Charter School in SCOTUS Case

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Liberty Counsel filed an amicus brief on behalf of Covenant Journey Academy (CJA) to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case that considers whether a state may discriminate against a faith-based school by excluding it from state funding in a public charter school program simply because of its religious affiliation.

Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond centers around the Oklahoma Attorney General seeking to stop the state’s charter school board from allowing an online Catholic school to become a charter school where it can then receive publicly available education funds. SCOTUS will hear oral arguments in the case on April 30, 2025. 

Faith and Family First Podcast

A Democrat Speaks Out on Religious Freedom

CLICK TO WATCH!

Representative Della Belatti gives floor speech on the midwifery bill when she recommends a Floor Amendment. Her speech focuses on religious freedom.  You don't want to miss this discussion.