HB 989 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PLANS.

Summary

Removes outdated requirements for plans filed with the registrar's office. Updates the permissible drawing scales used in plans. Clarifies statutory fees are pursuant to rules adopted by the Department of Accounting and General Services. Authorizes the Department of Accounting and General Services to approve the format of plans. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Feb 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB989 → HB989_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's land surveying regulations by shifting fee authority to the Department of Accounting and General Services and clarifying that fees are based on adopted rules rather than a specific chapter. It also modernizes requirements for plan formats, allowing the department to approve exceptions for non-contiguous parcels and adjusting permissible drawing scales. Finally, the effective date is set to July 1, 3000, indicating a long-term or placeholder timeline for these updates.

Scope change

The bill expands departmental discretion in approving plan formats and exceptions for non-contiguous parcels while removing outdated technical requirements regarding tracing cloth and specific fee schedules.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the statutory basis for survey fees from a specific chapter of Hawaii Administrative Rules to rules adopted by the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Removed the requirement that plans must be on tracing cloth, allowing approval of other tangible media of good quality.

Clarified that non-contiguous parcels can be shown on the same plan if the department determines an exception is appropriate.

Adjusted the list of permissible drawing scales for land plans to reflect current standards.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the act to July 1, 3000.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House. No roll call record of that vote is available.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to WLA/GVO, WAM.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to WTL/GVO, WAM.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 134).

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 12 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Miyake, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M., Morikawa, Alcos, Ward.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 533) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors