HB 1877: Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission; Membership

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, PLUS COMMISSION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 369-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (b) to read:

     "(b)  The commission shall consist of the following:

     (1)  Six ex officio, nonvoting members or their designees, including the:

          (A)  Superintendent of education;

          (B)  President of the University of Hawaii system;

          (C)  Director of labor and industrial relations;

          (D)  Director of human resources development;

          (E)  Director of human services; and

          (F)  Director of health; and

     (2)  [Eight] Nine voting members who shall be appointed by the governor in accordance with section 26-34; provided that of these [eight] nine members:

          (A)  One member shall be from the county of Hawaii;

          (B)  One member shall be from the county of Kauai;

          (C)  One member shall be from the county of Maui;

          (D)  Four members shall be from the city and county of Honolulu; [and]

          (E)  One member shall represent the Hawaii sexual and gender minority workgroup of the department of health[.]; and

          (F)  One member shall be under the age of twenty-nine at the time of the member's appointment; and

     (3)  Two voting members, one of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one of whom shall be appointed by the senate president."

     2.  By amending subsection (d) to read:

     "(d)  A chairperson of the commission shall be elected annually from the [eight] eleven appointed members of the commission.  A quorum to do business or validate any act of the commission shall consist of a majority of the [eight] eleven appointed members of the commission."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission; Membership

Description:

Expands the membership of the Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission from eight voting members to eleven by adding one seat for a person under the age of twenty-nine and one seat each for the appointees of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate President, respectively.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the Hawaii state lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 369-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (b) to read:

     "(b)  The commission shall consist of the following:

     (1)  Six ex officio, nonvoting members or their designees, including the:

          (A)  Superintendent of education;

          (B)  President of the University of Hawaii system;

          (C)  Director of labor and industrial relations;

          (D)  Director of human resources development;

          (E)  Director of human services; and

          (F)  Director of health; and

     (2)  [Eight] Nine voting members who shall be appointed by the governor in accordance with section 26-34; provided that of these [eight] Nine members:

          (A)  One member shall be from the county of Hawaii;

          (B)  One member shall be from the county of Kauai;

          (C)  One member shall be from the county of Maui;

          (D)  Four members shall be from the city and county of Honolulu; [and]

          (E)  One member shall represent the Hawaii sexual and gender minority workgroup of the department of health[.]; and

          (F)  One member shall be under the age of twenty-nine at the time of their appointment; and

     (3)  Two voting members, one of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one of whom shall be appointed by the senate president."

     2.  By amending subsection (d) to read:

     "(d)  A chairperson of the commission shall be elected annually from the [eight] eleven appointed members of the commission.  A quorum to do business or validate any act of the commission shall consist of a majority of the [eight] eleven appointed members of the commission."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus Commission; Membership

Description:

Expands the membership of the Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus Commission from eight voting members to eleven.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1129-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 1877

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1877, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, PLUS COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to expand the membership of the Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission from eight voting members to eleven by adding one seat for a person under the age of twenty-nine and one seat each for the appointees of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate President, respectively.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission; Hawaiʻi State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission; Pride at Work - Hawaiʻi; HOKU PAC; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers; and seven individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from seven individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission serves an important advisory role in identifying and addressing issues affecting the civil rights, wellbeing, and equal treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in the State.  Your Committee further finds that expanding the Commission's membership to include additional perspectives, including representation from younger individuals and appointees of the Legislature, will enhance the Commission's capacity to reflect the diversity of lived experiences within the community and improve the quality and depth of its policy recommendations.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1877, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  377-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 1877

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1877 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, PLUS COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Expand the membership of the Hawaiʻi State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission from eight voting members to eleven;

     (2)  Reserve one seat for a person under the age of twenty-nine; and

     (3)  Reserve one seat each for the appointees of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate President, respectively.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission; Pride at Work - Hawaiʻi; and HOKU PAC.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission is regularly called upon to provide policy recommendations, review legislation, and respond to emerging federal attacks impacting the community. Expanding the Commission's membership would ensure that this important work is sustainable, thoughtful, and reflective of the diversity of Hawaii's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer plus communities.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1877, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1877, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,