Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week in Review
from Hawaii Family Forum, May 1, 2026
HB1961 & HB1875 Awaiting Governor Action
Both HB1961 and HB1875 have effectively bypassed conference committee following a reconsideration of earlier House actions. For HB1875, on April 22, 2026, the House moved to reconsider its prior decision from April 16 to disagree with the Senate’s amendments. The following day, April 23, the House agreed to the Senate amendments, and the Senate received formal notice of this reconsideration and agreement (Hse. Com. No. 815). This sequence allowed the bill to advance without the need for a conference committee.
The same procedural steps occurred for HB1961. On April 22, 2026, the House initiated reconsideration of its earlier action, and on April 23, it agreed to the Senate amendments. The Senate likewise received notice of the House’s reconsideration and concurrence (Hse. Com. No. 815), allowing the measure to move forward without conference. As a result, both HB1961 and HB1875 have now been transmitted to the Governor for signature and, if signed, will take effect upon his approval.
LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES
MAY 1 FINAL DECKING OF FISCAL BILLS – Today was the deadline for submitting fiscal bills for final reading by both chambers. Fiscal bills include appropriation or spending bills, tax credits, etc., or any bill with a House Finance (FIN) or Senate Ways and Means (WAM) referral.
MAY 8 ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE – In Latin, “sine die” means “without a day” specified for next 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. From this point, the Legislature will certify bills whose form both chambers have agreed to and will transmit or “enroll” those bills to the Governor. Contact PAR for information regarding the Governor’s deadline
ACROSS THE NATION
Pentagon Orders No Males in Women’s Navy Restrooms
Apr 28, 2026 | NEWPORT, RI – As a result of several demand letters from Liberty Counsel, a U.S. Navy warfare center in Rhode Island is requiring two men who claim to be women to stop using female restrooms and use facilities according to their sex.
According to ALNAV 017/25, a February 2025 message directed to all U.S. Navy units, the policy of the United States is to “recognize two sexes, male and female, that are not changeable.” The message implements President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14168, “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” The ALNAV message further directs all Navy entities “ensure” that “intimate single-sex spaces” defined in EO 14168 “are designated by sex and not gender identity” on “installations, facilities, ships, and any other infrastructure.”
[Read full story here.]
AG Lopez Joins Brief Against KALSHI
April 24, 2026 | NEW YORK - A bipartisan group of 38 attorneys general filed an amicus brief in support of a Massachusetts lawsuit against the prediction market platform Kalshi. The attorneys general argued that states, not the federal government, have traditionally regulated gambling, including sports betting.
[Click here to read brief.]
SCOTUS Rules 9-0 Pregnancy Centers Can Challenge NJ Subpoena
Apr 29, 2026 | WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a group of faith-based pregnancy centers can challenge New Jersey’s unconstitutional subpoena for its donor records in federal court before the state officially moves to enforce it.
In First Choice Women's Resource Centers, Inc. v. Davenport (originally v. Platkin), SCOTUS resolved a technical but urgent constitutional question of whether a state subpoena that chills First Amendment rights must first be litigated in state court before seeking federal court relief. The lower courts ruled the pregnancy centers could not bring their case in federal court until a state court could address the claims. However, the Justices stated the law “guarantees a federal forum” for those who “claim unconstitutional treatment at the hands of state officials.”
[Read full story here.]
Press Release: FDA Commissioner Urged to Conduct Environmental Review of Abortion Pill Protocol
Apr 30, 2026 | WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Liberty Counsel Action (LCA) met with U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary and discussed the environmental risks associated with the abortion pill protocol (Mifepristone and Misoprostol) and the legal basis for a new environmental assessment. LCA presented Dr. Makary with evidence that chemical abortion drugs are contaminating America’s drinking water and recommended that the FDA both assess U.S. water sources for potential abortion pill contaminants and their possible adverse effects, and initiate proper disposal protocols for the aborted fetal remains and medical waste associated with chemical abortions. LCA also recommended the FDA suspend the drug’s current approval until the assessment is complete.
[Read full story here.]
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