On February 13, the Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 2480, although the committee recommended that the bill be amended on the Senate floor. It is not known what the amendments would be. The Libertarian Party and the Green Party testified against the bill. The vote was3-0, with two members absent.

The sponsors are three Democratic Senators (Mike Gabbard, Jarrett Keohokalole, and Jay san Buenaventura), and one Republican Senator (Kurt Favella).

The bill, as introduced, would make it far more difficult for a party to remain ballot-qualified. They could only stay on if they polled 10% for president (which no third party has done since 1968). The easier vote tests (4% for State House, or 2% for State Senate) would no longer work, since parties would no longer have nominees except for President.

If enacted, the bill would take effect immediately, and thus the 2026 election would use a top-two system.

At the hearing, no mention was made of the current California top-two situation with the gubernatorial election. The Hawaii League of Women Voters testified for the bill, even though in the past the League of Women Voters in Arizona, Oregon, and Washington had opposed top-two systems.