Legislative Update: 
Marijuana Decriminalization & 
Access to Gender-Affirming Care Advance

Aloha [CONTACT: first name]:

Two problematic bills have passed out of committee, and we wanted to give you an update.

This bill reduces the threshold for second-degree marijuana offenses from 1 ounce to 30 grams and increases the allowable amount for third-degree offenses from 3 grams or less to 15 grams or less. The Senate Committee on Judiciary passed the bill out of committee on February 11, 2025.  
STATUS: The bill passed out of committee and will now go to the full Senate floor for a vote. We will be sending out an alert soon so that you can contact your own Senator to ask them to vote no on SB319.
Hawaii Family Forum submitted testimony in opposition.

The votes in committee were as follows:
🟩 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 
❌ 1 No(es): Senator(s) Gabbard; and 
🟨 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.

Watch the comments of Senator Gabbard voting no.

Mahalo to Senator Gabbard for his NO vote.

The bill (SB1150) that would allow minor access to gender-affirming care easily passed the joint hearing of the House Health & Human Services and House Consumer Protection Committees. This bill expands what the legislature did in 2023 (SB1).  The purpose of the 2023 law was to create a new section in Hawaii's laws entitled "REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES" which became referenced as §323J-1.  This new chapter in Hawaii's law bolstered the State’s policy to protect an individual’s reproductive autonomy, particularly in light of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, 142 S. Ct. 2228 (2022). It strengthened and clarified the State’s protections for "reproductive health care services" and protection against potential efforts by other states to impose civil or criminal liability or professional discipline in connection with reproductive health care services.  
STATUS:  The bill passed out of committee and will now move to a joint House Committee of the House Judiciary and the House Ways & Means.  We will send out a notice when the bill pops for hearing.
Hawaii Family Forum submitted testimony in opposition.

The votes in committee were as follows:
Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
🟩 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole
❌ 1 No(es): Senator(s) Fevella

Senate Committee on Commerce & Consumer Protection
🟩 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Richards
❌ 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa
🟨 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.

View the very short decision-making here.  No senator made any comments but we do appreciate the no votes of Senators Fevella and Awa.

Mahalo for your patience as we navigate all the bills moving this session.

Eva Andrade
President/CEO