HB 1956 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO FRESHWATER WATERWAYS.

Summary

Prohibits residing in, on, or within fifty feet of a freshwater waterway. Authorizes law enforcement officers to enforce the prohibition. Specifies that violation is a civil violation, not a criminal offense. Establishes procedures for the removal, inventory, storage, and disposal of unattended personal property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB1956 → HB1956_HD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision shifts the legal approach from criminal enforcement to a civil administrative process, removing arrest powers and fines in favor of civil citations. It significantly expands the definition of prohibited waterways to include hydrologically connected natural watercourses and clarifies that 'residing' involves using items like tents or bedding. The new version adds specific protections for essential personal property, such as identification and medication, and establishes a mandatory 24-hour notice period before issuing citations, replacing the previous tiered violation system.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include natural watercourses with defined beds and banks that are hydrologically connected to coastal systems, whereas the original text only explicitly listed rivers, streams, or drainage canals.

ENFORCEMENT

Violations are now classified as civil offenses rather than criminal ones, eliminating the authority to arrest or fine individuals and replacing the tiered violation system with a single civil citation process.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'residing' (sleeping or occupying a place with habitation items) and 'unattended personal property' (property not in immediate possession).

The definition of 'freshwater waterway' was expanded to include natural watercourses with defined beds and banks that are hydrologically connected to coastal systems.

REQUIREMENT

Law enforcement must now issue a written notice with a 24-hour compliance window before issuing a citation, and essential items like ID and medication must be catalogued separately for immediate retrieval.

Citations now require a statement of indigency or proof of compliance as grounds for waiving or reducing civil penalties.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from immediate approval to July 1, 3000.

Floor votes · House Feb 20, 2026

How they voted

49–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 50

Feb 20, 2026

D Democratic40

39 Yea 1

97% Yea

R Republican10

10 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 707-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (49-0-1)

house

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

18 primary · 0 co-sponsors