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Time is Running Out: Bills That Will Die Without a Hearing After the Triple Referral Filing Deadline

Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy

📅 Key Deadlines: 🛑 Senate: February 5, 2025

🛑 House: February 6, 2025


Every legislative session, thousands of bills are introduced, but not all of them make it through the process. Bills with a “triple referral” must pass their first committee by these deadlines—or they die for the session.


This means if these bills don’t get a hearing soon, they will not move forward.


🚨 Bills at Risk of Dying

Here are the bills that need action before the deadline:





📝 Why It Matters


A triple referral means a bill has been assigned to three committees. While this can help ensure a bill is properly vetted, it also makes it harder to pass—especially if committee chairs don’t schedule a hearing in time


If a bill is stuck in its first committee and isn’t heard by the deadline, it automatically dies for the year.


🚀 How You Can Help


1️⃣ Check if a Bill You Care About is on the List

Find bills that align with your values—whether it's food policy, sustainability, or economic justice.




2️⃣ Contact Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs

If a bill is sitting in its first committee, you can email or call the committee chair and request a hearing. Be direct and respectful.

📩 Example Email:

Aloha [Chair’s Name],
I’m reaching out as a concerned community member who supports [Bill #]. This bill is important because [reason]. Please schedule a hearing before the triple referral deadline so that it has a chance to move forward. Mahalo for your time!

3️⃣ Spread the Word

Legislators are more likely to act when they know people are paying attention.

  • Share this post with your network

  • Post about key bills on social media

  • Encourage others to submit testimony and contact legislators

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