HB 1805 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Summary

Establishes an independent Office of the Child Advocate within the Department of the Attorney General to oversee and evaluate the delivery of services to children and their families by various state agencies and entities, receive and investigate complaints, and make recommendations for improvement. Requires annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and public. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Mar 10, 2026

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What changed between versions

HB1805 → HB1805_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to move the Office of the Child Advocate from the Office of the Ombudsman to the Department of the Attorney General, changing its reporting structure and administrative oversight. The Child Advocate's salary was adjusted to 90% of the Deputy Director of Health's salary, and the office's funding source was changed to the Attorney General's budget. The effective date of the bill was set to July 1, 3000, likely as a placeholder for future legislative action.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from being housed within the Office of the Ombudsman to the Department of the Attorney General, altering the administrative hierarchy and funding stream for the new office.

SCOPE

The Office of the Child Advocate was moved from the Office of the Ombudsman to the Department of the Attorney General.

FISCAL

Funding for the office was changed from the legislature's expenses act to a separate program in the Department of the Attorney General's budget.

REQUIREMENT

The Child Advocate's salary was set to 90% of the Deputy Director of Health's salary instead of matching the Director of Health's salary.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed to July 1, 3000, indicating the bill has not yet been finalized for implementation.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS/JDC, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 50).

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia, Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from LMG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 607-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on LMG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ichiyama, Kahaloa, Morikawa, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to LMG, FIN, referral sheet 10

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to LMG, HSH, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

19 primary · 0 co-sponsors