This Week in Hawai'i

from Hawaii Family Forum, March 29, 2025

Sports Betting Working Group (AKA 1ST STEP TO LEGALIZE GAMBLING)

On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the Senate committee(s) on EDT recommended that SCR 121 (the resolution that requests the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a tourism and gaming working group) be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 

3 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Fukunaga; 

 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kim, Awa.

We appreciate the comments in opposition from Prosecutor Steve Alm who stated in his written testimony, "We stand in strong opposition to this resolution because it will open the door to legalize gambling in our state. One need only to look at some of the participants on the working group (Boyd Gaming, DraftKings, and BetMGM) to see the intent of this resolution. Legalizing gambling will not serve our community and will only increase the societal harms from gambling that citizens already suffer from because they partake in illegal gambling."

STATUS:  The resolution will now move to the full Senate floor for adoption.

LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES

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 the third reading. 

APR 10 SECOND CROSSOVER (BILLS) – Deadline for amended bills to pass third reading in their non-originating chamber in order to “cross back” to the originating chamber.

APRIL 10 LAST DAY FOR THE ORIGINATING BODY TO DISAGREE WITH BILL AMENDMENTS – Deadline for the originating chamber to disagree with changes made to its bills by the other chamber. When the Senate and House disagree on a bill, members from each chamber may meet in a “conference” committee to work out their differences. 

APR 17 DEADLINE FOR FINAL FORM OF BILLS PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS – A proposed amendment’s final form must be provided by written notice to the Governor at least 10 days prior to passing final reading by a 2/3 vote in each chamber. Once adopted by the Legislature, the proposed amendment is submitted to the voters, in the form of a ‘yes or no’ question on the ballot, for ultimate decision. 

APR 21 SECOND CROSSOVER FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS – Deadline for passing amended concurrent resolutions in the non-originating chamber in order to “cross back” to the originating chamber.

Across the Nation

Decentralizing Education: Balancing Local Empowerment and Potential Challenges

​On March 25, 2024 President Trump released Executive Order 14242 Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities

The executive order to close the Department of Education and return authority to the states presents both positive and negative aspects. On the positive side, it empowers local communities and families to tailor educational policies to better meet their specific needs, potentially fostering innovation and responsiveness. ​ Additionally, reducing federal bureaucracy could streamline processes and improve efficiency. ​ However, this shift also raises concerns about potential disparities in educational quality and resources between states, as well as a reduction in standardization and accountability. States will need to develop or expand their own education management structures, which could pose significant challenges. Overall, this move aims to enhance local control and involvement in education while addressing the inefficiencies of federal oversight. ​

150+ Pro-Life Leaders from All 50 States (Including Hawaii Family Forum) Call on Congress to End Taxpayer Funding of Abortion

Over 150 national and state pro-life leaders representing groups from all 50 states sent a letter to members of Congress encouraging them to seize the moment and stop the flow of American tax dollars toward the abortion industry.  Hawaii Family Forum was one the supporting groups.

Reconciliation bills in 2015 and 2017 included a provision to stop funneling American tax dollars to Big Abortion. This year, Congress can finally end funding for an industry that endangers women, kills unborn children and spends millions lobbying for abortion on demand with no limits. Per their last annual report, Planned Parenthood alone took the lives of nearly 400,000 babies and received almost $700 million – nearly $2 million a day – from taxpayers in just one year. [View full letter here.]

Catch Up on the Faith and Family First Podcast

CLICK TO WATCH -- Marcus Oshiro and Eva Andrade discuss the recent Presidential Executive Order that removes the authority of the Department of Education and gives power back to the states.  What are the pros and cons of this order?