This Week in Hawai'i

from Hawaii Family Forum, March 15, 2026

Because of the recent storm and widespread power outages, this week’s update is arriving a little later than usual. Mahalo for your patience. Our prayers are with everyone who was affected, and we hope you and your ʻohana are safe and doing well as our islands recover.

Final Floor Votes (March 10, 2026)

The bills we have been tracking have passed THIRD Reading and have now crossed over to the opposite chamber, where they have been assigned to new subject committees, and the hearings will start all over again.

ACTION ALERT: HB1961 HD2 – New Criminal Penalties for Praying Near Health Care Facilities

HB1961 HD2 would create a new criminal offense for “interfering” with access to a health care facility. While everyone agrees that violence, threats, and physical obstruction are wrong, this bill goes further by creating additional criminal penalties — including mandatory jail time — and new civil lawsuits against individuals.

Under this bill:

A first offense would require at least 24 consecutive hours in jail.

Repeat offenses would carry longer mandatory jail terms.

Facilities, employees, property owners, and patients could file lawsuits — even without proving financial damages.

The Attorney General would be authorized to seek court orders and additional penalties.

Blocking entrances and threatening people are already illegal under current Hawaiʻi law. This measure adds new layers of criminal and civil liability, including for conduct deemed “reckless,” which raises concerns about how broadly it could be applied.

Lawmakers should ensure that any legislation in this area is narrowly tailored, protects constitutional rights, and does not duplicate existing criminal laws.

TAKE ACTION NOW

The bill is scheduled for hearing by the Senate Health & Human Services Committee

Pray for our legislators as they debate this, and other, important issues facing Hawaii's families.

Contact the members of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee and politely ask them to vote NO on HB1961 HD2.

Submit testimony no later than Tuesday, March 17th at 1:00 p.m.

Click here for more information and to see our talking points.

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LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES

MAR 16 BUDGET DECKING (BILLS) – Deadline for submitting the spending plan developed by the Governor which estimates expenditures for the fiscal year or biennium and the proposed means of financing these expenditures. 

MAR 18 BUDGET CROSSOVER (BILLS) – Last day for third reading of budget bills in order to move to the other chamber. 

MAR 19 SECOND TRIPLE REFERRAL FILING (BILLS) – All bills referred to three or more committees must be in their second-to-last committee in the non-originating chamber by this date. (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 their last committee by the Second Lateral deadline. 

MAR 27 SECOND LATERAL FILING (BILLS) – Filing Deadline for Second Lateral Bills 

MAR 30 SECOND LATERAL (BILLS) – All bills with multiple referrals must move to their final referral committee in the non-originating chamber by this date. 

MAR 31 (SENATE) APR 2 (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.