House passes multiple bills on final reading; HB1146 draws several no votes

The Hawaii House of Representatives passed multiple House bills on final reading Tuesday, approving amendments from the Senate and moving several measures forward, while one bill drew several recorded no votes.

Representative Mark Takai Todd moved to agree to Senate amendments to House Bill 110, House Bill 412 and House Bill 1146; Representative Della Morikawa seconded the motion, and the House carried the measure by voice vote. The House then suspended its rules to consider a group of bills on the consent calendar and passed the listed measures on final reading.

The House announced recorded no votes only on House Bill 1146, House Draft 1, Senate Draft 1. Representative Morikawa announced that “all majority members vote aye, with the exception of the following. For HB 1146 HD1 SD1, Rep. Kong votes no.” Representative Garcia later read the minority exceptions and said, “On House Bill 1146, House Draft 1, Senate Draft 1, Reps. Matsumoto, Garcia, Mora, Oka, Shimizu and Perrick vote no.” The clerk confirmed that the measures passed final reading.

Representative David Yamamoto, speaking on the amendments to HB110, said he supported measures to increase Department of Education purchases from local farmers but raised a concern about the treatment of local "value‑added processed food" in the 30% local‑spending requirement. Yamamoto said the definition could allow minimal processing that would count toward the local percentage and questioned whether that would meaningfully support local farmers. "How do farmers, how do our ... how does that support our farmers and help us to get to greater food sovereignty?" he asked. "But that's my only concern. Thank you."

Separately, the House approved motions to suspend the rules to reconsider prior action and then moved to reconsider action previously taken in disagreeing to amendments made by the Senate to House Bill 622 HD1. Representative Todd moved to reconsider and to give notice of intent to agree to the Senate amendments; Representative Morikawa seconded. The motion carried, and the House scheduled HB622 HD1 to appear on tomorrow’s order of the day for agreement and final reading.

The House also provided one‑day notice that several House concurrent resolutions will be up for agreement to Senate amendments and adoption tomorrow, including HCR 25 (HD1 SD1), HCR 27 (SD1), HCR 55 (HD1 SD1), HCR 77 (HD1 SD1), HCR 123 (SD1), HCR 146 (HD1 SD1), HCR 171 (SD1), HCR 174 (HD1 SD1) and HCR 203 (SD1).

Why it matters: Final reading and agreement to Senate amendments are the last steps in the House before measures go to the governor or return to the Senate, and recorded dissent can indicate issues that may persist in conference or implementation. Representative Yamamoto’s reservation highlights an operational question about how the House’s local‑food procurement goals will be implemented and verified.

Votes at a glance: - HB110 (as amended): Motion to agree to Senate amendments — moved by Representative Todd; seconded by Representative Morikawa; passed on voice vote. - HB412 (as amended): Motion to agree to Senate amendments — moved by Representative Todd; seconded by Representative Morikawa; passed on voice vote. - HB1146 (HD1 SD1): Motion to agree to Senate amendments and passage on final reading — passed; recorded no votes announced by Representatives Morikawa and Garcia: Rep. Kong (no) and Reps. Matsumoto, Garcia, Mora, Oka, Shimizu and Perrick (no). - HB622 (HD1): Motion to reconsider prior disagreement with Senate amendments and give notice of intent to agree — moved by Representative Todd; seconded by Representative Morikawa; motion carried. HB622 HD1 scheduled for agreement and final reading tomorrow.

What’s next: The bills passed on final reading will proceed according to the legislative calendar; HB622 HD1 and the listed HCRs will be considered on the House calendar tomorrow.