SB 173 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CHILD CARE.

Summary

Requires the Judiciary to establish a three-year pilot program to provide free child care services to minor children of parties and witnesses who are attending court hearings in the first circuit. Requires the Judiciary to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB173 → SB173_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was converted from a standard Senate bill (SB) to a Senate Majority Amendment (SD1), changing the sponsor and document metadata. The most significant substantive change is the appropriation amount, which was removed entirely, leaving the funding blank. Additionally, the effective date was drastically altered from July 1, 2025, to April 23, 2057, delaying the pilot program by over a decade.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the pilot program remains the same, but the applicability is now delayed by 32 years due to the new effective date.

FISCAL

The specific dollar amount for the child care pilot program appropriation was deleted, leaving the budget line blank.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the child care pilot program was changed from July 1, 2025, to April 23, 2057.

TECHNICAL

The bill type was changed from a standard Senate Bill (SB) to a Senate Majority Amendment (SD1), which alters the legislative process and sponsor information.

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

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 23) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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

Jan 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors