SB 129 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO LABELING REQUIREMENTS.

Summary

Prohibits the sale of raw ahi, including ahi poke or processed ahi, in retail establishments without a label that states the country where the ahi was landed. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 10, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB129_SD1 → SB129_SD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to change the session designation from SD1 to SD2 and updated the internal tracking numbers. The most significant substantive change is the revision of the definition for 'farm-raised fish,' which now explicitly references the federal regulation without the redundant phrase 'has the same meaning as.' Additionally, the severability clause was added to ensure that if any part of the bill is ruled invalid, the rest of the law remains in effect.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the definition of 'farm-raised fish' was refined to align more directly with federal regulatory text, while the overall applicability of the raw ahi labeling requirements remains unchanged.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'farm-raised fish' was edited to remove the phrase 'has the same meaning as,' changing the text to simply state it is 'as defined in' the specific federal regulation.

REQUIREMENT

A new Section 3 was added to include a severability clause, ensuring that if any provision of the Act is found invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable.

TECHNICAL

The bill's session designation was updated from SD1 to SD2, and associated internal tracking numbers and dates were adjusted to reflect the new version.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to AGR, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 94) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Richards.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 9:35AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 388) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Kim; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Awa.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDT, CPN.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 10, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors