HB 1297 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Summary

Sets a time limit for submitting bid protests. Makes the seventy-five-day limit for issuing a written decision on protests apply to any contract awarded by competitive sealed bid or competitive sealed proposal. Caps the protest bond amount. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Apr 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1297_HD1 → HB1297_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's procurement protest procedures by clarifying when protest deadlines apply, extending the time limit for written decisions on protests to all competitive contracts, and capping the required protest bond amount at $1.5 million. The changes aim to make the protest process more predictable and accessible for bidders while maintaining reasonable financial requirements.

Scope change

The scope of the 75-day written decision deadline was expanded from specific contract types to apply to any contract awarded through competitive sealed bid or competitive sealed proposal processes.

TIMELINE

Extended the deadline for issuing written protest decisions to 75 calendar days for all contracts awarded via competitive sealed bid or proposal, previously limited to specific contract types.

REQUIREMENT

Capped the maximum protest bond amount at $1.5 million, replacing the previous unlimited dollar cap based on contract value.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the requirement that the office of administrative hearings must find an appeal frivolous or made in bad faith before forfeiting the protest bond to the state.

DEFINITION

Clarified that protest deadlines apply when a bidder knows or should know of facts giving rise to a protest, with specific timing requirements for solicitation-based protests.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 8, 2025 · House Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

25–0

Passed

Total votes 25

Apr 8, 2025

D Democratic22

22 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican3

3 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 756) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-01-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1271) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to GVO, WAM/JDC.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to GVO, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 353).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka voting no (3) and Representative(s) Kapela, Pierick, Ward excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to FIN, referral sheet 4

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors