How to submit written testimony to protect access to health care facilities (HB 1961)

Here's how to submit written testimony in Hawai‘i:

  1. Log in (or create an account) at capitol.hawaii.gov.

  1. Click “Submit Testimony.” 

  1. Enter the bill number into “Bill Status/Measure Status” field in the upper left corner of page.  

  1. Click “Continue” under “Enter Bill or Measure.” Make sure the field has the correct bill number.   

  1. Complete the page, especially: 

  • Choose “Support” under “Your Position”.

  • Add personal testimony (optional) under “Attachments” or “Your Testimony/Comments.”  See attachment for talking points but personal commentary is encouraged. 

  1. Click “Submit.” 

  2. “Your testimony was submitted…” should appear in red at the top of the screen to confirm. 

You can also check out this Instagram post for more information on how to submit written testimony. 

Protecting Access to Health Care Facilities (HB 1961) 

Every person deserves access to health care safely, with dignity, and without fear. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.  

Over the past several decades, and especially since the overturn of Roe, incidents of violence have continuously increased. This includes vandalism, assault and battery, threats of harm or death threats, stalking, harassment, and in the most extreme cases, murder of individual abortion providers. 

We are asking the state legislature to enhance protections for health care facilities — including patients and providers — from protestors by giving law enforcement the tools they need to intervene. 

 

<< Click here to submit testimony! >>

 

Example testimony

Good Morning/Afternoon Chair Rhoads, Vice Chair Gabbard, and Members of the Committee, 

My name is ____ and I live in _____.  

I respectfully urge you to support HB 1961. 

[Insert personal story if interested in sharing] 

This bill protects patients and providers by preventing protestors from blocking entrances or exits, threatening patients or providers, or interfering with health care facilities. Every person deserves to access the health care they need without fear of harassment or threats.  

Please support HB 1961. 

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Patients and providers should not be afraid of being harassed for accessing or providing legal health care services.  

  • Harassment and violence targeting abortion and gender-affirming health centers have increased in recent years. Patients and providers have faced threats, stalking, physical intimidation, and worse — simply for seeking or providing legal health care. 

  • This bill protects access by making it illegal to block clinic entrances, threaten patients or staff, or interfere with a health care facility. It ensures law enforcement can step in when access is disrupted. 

  • Medical care should be a personal decision that is determined by a patient and their provider, not be dictated by violent actors and harassment. 

Protestors in Honolulu:

  • At the Honolulu Planned Parenthood health center, protestors regularly block the driveway, lean on patients’ and staff members’ cars, shout slurs, and stand in front of vehicles to prevent people from entering or leaving. 

  • No one should face intimidation or obstruction just to get medical care. Hawaiʻi needs clear legal protections so law enforcement can step in when access to health care is blocked or patients are being harassed. 

We must take action now to prevent similar mainland tragedies:

  • These incidents are not isolated. Abortion and gender-affirming care providers across the country regularly face harassment, vandalism, threats, and violence. 

  • Between 2023 and 2024 alone, the National Abortion Federation documented thousands of incidents — including harassment, trespassing, death threats, bomb threats, and acts of vandalism. Here are some recent examples:  

  • In November 2015, three people were murdered and nine injured when Robert Dear brought an assault-style rifle to a Planned Parenthood health center in Colorado Springs and opened fire. 

  • A gunman also attacked the Planned Parenthood clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee in the early hours of January 22, 2021, and in December 2021, the same clinic was burned to the ground by arsonists. 

  • In late May of 2022, a few weeks after the Dobbs decision was leaked, an arsonist set fire to a clinic in Wyoming that was set to open its doors in June. The damage cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in repair and delayed the opening of the clinic by almost a year. 

  • An arsonist started a fire immediately outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Kalamazoo, Maryland on July 31, 2022, burning the roof and landscaping surrounding the clinic. There were three instances of arson against clinics between 2023-2034, and more incidents of attempted arson. 

  • In 2020, an explosive device was thrown through the front window of a Planned Parenthood clinic Newark, Delaware. A similar event occurred at a Planned Parenthood in Fort Myers, Florida later that same year. 

  • In January 2023, a Planned Parenthood in Peoria, Illinois was set on fire in an alleged arson attack. 

 

<< Click here to submit testimony! >>