SB 2025 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO JURY DUTY.

SB 2025 allows actively practicing advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to claim exemption from serving on jury duty. This bill directly affects APRNs who are currently working in their specialty roles. The key provision removes the requirement for these nurses to fulfill jury service obligations, instead permitting them to formally request exemption. The change aims to address workforce needs by reducing scheduling conflicts for nurses providing critical healthcare services.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2025 → SB2025_SD1 · 2 edits

MINOR

This bill expands jury duty exemptions to include physician assistants working in federally qualified health centers, joining advanced practice registered nurses as the only healthcare professionals exempt from service. The change aims to prevent these essential healthcare providers from being removed from their daily practice to serve on juries, thereby protecting patient access to care and reducing financial hardship for the providers.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include physician assistants employed in federally qualified health centers in addition to advanced practice registered nurses.

ELIGIBILITY

Added physician assistants employed in federally qualified health centers to the list of healthcare professionals exempt from jury duty.

Updated the bill title and description to reflect the inclusion of physician assistants alongside advanced practice registered nurses.

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 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2252) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors