Bill > SB350

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment in Hawaii to explicitly protect an individual's right to access and use contraception. The proposed amendment would add a new section to Article I of the Hawaii State Constitution, preventing any state law or action that would deny or interfere with a person's ability to obtain contraceptives or engage in contraception. The bill defines contraception broadly as actions taken to prevent pregnancy, including the use of contraceptives like IUDs and emergency contraceptives such as Plan B, and clarifies that these methods prevent pregnancy rather than terminate it. The legislature notes that fourteen other states and Washington D.C. already have similar protections, and emphasizes that this amendment is intended to further the existing constitutional right to privacy without narrowing it. If passed, the amendment would be placed on a ballot for voters to approve, with the ballot question directly asking whether the constitution should be amended to protect the right to contraception. The proposed constitutional change is specifically designed to ensure that individuals can make personal decisions about their reproductive health without government interference.

Health and Social Services, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=350&year=2025