Latest news on legislation to protect Hawaii student journalists

January 11, 2020

This story will be updated as new information is available regarding New Voices legislation in Hawaii.

Senate Bill

We have a senate bill! Here is a link to SB2608, which is called Hawaii Student Journalism Protection Act.

It has been assigned to EDU/HRE, JUD. The EDU and HRE committees usually meet at 2:45 p.m.

It is sponsored by Senator Les Ihara.

Other introducers of the bill are:

  • Stanley Chang
  • Kaiali‘i Kahele
  • Donna Mercado Kim
  • Kanuha Dru Mamoanuha

If any of these senators represent your home or school district, email them to thank them for their support of scholastic journalism.

House Bill

HB1529 will get another go this session. It is called Hawaii Student Free Expression Bill.

Here is its legislative page. Last year, it was assigned to LHE, JUD, FIN. It has not been reassigned yet. The LHE committee usually meets at 2 p.m. daily.

HB1529 is sponsored by Representative Takashi Ohno.

Other introducers of the bill are:

  • Della Au Belatti
  • Tom Brower
  • Romy Cachola
  • Richard Creagan
  • Lynn Decoite
  • Cedric Gates
  • Mark Hashem
  • Troy Hashimoto
  • Linda Ichiyama
  • Chris Lee
  • Nicole Lowen
  • Lauren Matsumoto
  • Bob McDermott
  • John Mizuno                   .
  • Dee Morikawa
  • Mark Nakashima
  • Val Okimoto
  • Sean Quinlan
  • Gregg Takayama
  • Cynthia Thielen
  • Chris Todd
  • Gene Ward
  • Tina Wildberger
  • Justin Woodson
  • Kyle Yamashita
  • Joy San Buenaventura

If any of these representatives serve your home or school district, email them to thank them for their support of scholastic journalism.

How you can help right now

  1. Contact committee chairs to urge them to hear the bill:
  1. Watch the Student Press Law Center webinar on preparing testimony January 30 at 3 pm HST https://zoom.us/j/370211084. After Jan. 30, email [email protected] for a link to the recorded video.
  2. Register at capitol.hawaii.gov so you can track the bills, get notifications of committee hearings, and submit testimony.
  3. Testify in person!

For information about the New Voices movement nationwide, visit this link.