Requesting The Thirty-fourth Legislature Of The State Of Hawaii To Amend Its Internal Rules To Eliminate The Formal Vote Option Of "with Reservations".
Summary
SCR151 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Thirty-Fourth Legislature of Hawaii to amend the internal rules of both chambers so that the formal vote option of "with reservations" is eliminated. The measure explains that current Senate and House rules allow members to vote aye, no, or with reservations, and that a vote with reservations is treated as a favorable vote for purposes of advancing legislation. The resolution argues that this practice lets legislators avoid taking a clear position while still keeping a bill alive.
The resolution frames the issue as one of transparency and accountability in legislative voting. It notes that Hawaii is the only state legislature that formally permits "with reservations" votes and asks the next Legislature to align its rules with a more binary yes-or-no voting structure. The resolution also directs the Senate and House chief clerks to distribute copies to incoming and continuing legislators after the 2026 general election.
Impact
SCR151 would not directly change state statute law; instead, it would urge the next Legislature to revise its own internal procedural rules. If adopted, the House and Senate would remove the formal "with reservations" voting option from their rules, affecting how floor and committee votes are recorded and how members can signal support or hesitation. The practical impact would be on legislative procedure, member accountability, and the advancement of bills in both chambers, rather than on substantive policy areas or external parties.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is critical of the current "with reservations" practice. The bill presents the vote option as a way for legislators to avoid a clear stance and emphasizes that constituents expect members to vote for or against measures. No opposing testimony or recorded votes are provided in the materials, so the available context shows a one-sided, reform-oriented position favoring elimination of the practice.
Contention
The main point of contention is whether legislators should retain the ability to vote "with reservations" as a procedural middle ground. Supporters of elimination, as reflected in the resolution, view the option as reducing transparency and allowing members to straddle both sides of an issue. Any opposition would likely come from members who value the option as a way to express qualified support while keeping legislation moving, but no committee debate or vote history is available here to identify specific opponents or supporters.
Same As
Requesting The Thirty-fourth Legislature Of The State Of Hawaii To Amend Its Internal Rules To Eliminate The Formal Vote Option Of "with Reservations".
A resolution to direct the Clerk of the House of Representatives to only present to the Governor enrolled House bills finally passed by both houses of the One Hundred Third Legislature.
Relating to nonsubstantive additions to, revisions of, and corrections in enacted codes, to the nonsubstantive codification or disposition of various laws omitted from enacted codes, and to conforming codifications enacted by the 88th Legislature to other Acts of that legislature.