Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week in Review

from Hawaii Family Forum, March 15, 2024

Recreational Marijuana Passes Joint Hearing in House

The joint hearing on Wednesday was an overwhelming NO from the people of Hawaii and several law enforcement and governmental agencies; HOWEVER, sadly, the support from marijuana proponents, the ACLU and a few others won the day.   The joint committee passed the bill out of committee with amendments.   Hawaii Family Forum testified in opposition to the bill.  Mahalo to the 421 people who signed our petition against legalized recreational/commercial marijuana.  We turned it into the committee(s) on your behalf.

We truly appreciate the no votes of the House members noted below.
The votes in the House Agriculture were as follows: 
5 Ayes: Representative(s) Gates, Kahaloa, Lowen; 
Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson; 
1 Noes: Representative(s) Ward; and 
1 Excused: Representative(s) Perruso.
The votes in the House Judiciary was as follows:
7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Evslin, Ganaden, Holt, Ilagan, Miyake; 
Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Takayama; 
3 Noes: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Kong, Souza; and Excused: none.

STATUS:  The bill will now move to a house hearing of the Consumer Protection Committee. We will send out an action alert when it pops for hearing.

SCOTUS Set to Hear Oral Arguments on Chemical Abortions

On March 26, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a significant case about the availability of abortion pills, which are now the most commonly used method for abortion in the U.S.

The case challenges the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) support for these pills, claiming the agency overlooked potential risks and broke federal law. The FDA's actions have essentially created a mail-order service for abortion pills and turned local pharmacies into distributors.

Although the Supreme Court's review does not aim to ban these pills, it might reinstate some restrictions that the FDA removed. The decision, expected in June, is likely to provoke a strong public and political response, echoing the reactions to the Dobbs decision that repealed Roe v. Wade.

Mifepristone, when combined with another medication called misoprostol, is used for most abortions across the country. It's safe to use up to about 10 weeks into a pregnancy. However, there's a possibility that the Supreme Court might change this, allowing its use only up to 7 weeks and making it necessary for patients to see a doctor in person to get these medications. 

Upcoming Legislative Deadlines & Events

MAR 21 SECOND LATERAL FILING (BILLS) – Filing Deadline for Second Lateral Bills. 
MAR 22 SECOND LATERAL (BILLS) – All bills with multiple referrals must move to their final referral committee in the non-originating chamber by this date. 
MAR 25 (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 FILING FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS –Filing Deadline for First Crossover for concurrent resolutions. 
APR 4 FIRST CROSSOVER FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS –Deadline for passing the single floor vote for adoption required for resolutions in order to move from the originating chamber to the other chamber. 
APR 4 SINGLE REFERRAL FILING (HOUSE BILLS) – Deadline to file Senate committee reports on single referral House Bills 
APR 5 SECOND DECKING (BILLS) – Deadline for 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.

Catch Up on the Triple F Show

The Hawaii Legislature is moving a bill with the purpose of excluding a presidential candidate from the ballot...in the name of democracy. The U.S. Supreme Court already ruled, unanimously, that states cannot remove a candidate from the ballot, so why are states still advancing efforts? Jim and Eva discuss on this week's episode of the FFF Show.

The U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade gave some a renewed excuse to attack religious groups, institutions, and individuals. Why are people of faith treated so poorly? Where did the tolerance go? Jim and Eva discuss on this week's episode of the FFF Show.