League of Women Voters of Hawaii challenged whether the process for adopting Act 290 (2025) complied with the Hawaii Constitution. The lawsuit focuses on whether vague bill titles and late introduction of bill content makes it difficult for members of the public and the Legislature to follow, understand, and provide meaningful comments on legislation. Specifically, in 2025, the Legislature introduced a short form proposal (no substantive content) with a vague title (“Relating to Government”) that eventually became a law that significantly impacted government pension benefits. Plaintiff claims that the process violated the subject-in-title and bill-introduction-deadline requirements of the Hawaii Constitution. The Honorable Jordon J. Kimura held that Act 290 did not violate the constitutional requirements. No. 1CCV-25-1456 and SCRQ-26-336.
- Complaint (9/2/25)
- Answer (10/7/25)
- League’s Motion for Summary Judgment (10/7/25)
- State’s Opposition (1/27/26)
- League’s Reply (1/30/26)
- State’s Motion for Summary Judgment (10/7/25)
- Plaintiff’s Opposition (1/27/26)
- State’s Reply (1/30/26)
- Minute Order (2/6/26)
- Order for Reserved Questions (4/1/26)
- Amended Order Granting the State’s Motion for Summary Judgment (7/20/26)
Hawaii Supreme Court
- Order for Reserved Questions (4/23/26)
- Order Returning Reserved Questions (5/22/26)