SB 2041 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY.

Summary

Establishes a working group to recommend the implementation of specific reforms to effectively eliminate the Land Court. Requires a report to the Legislature, including proposed legislation drafted with assistance from the Legislative Reference Bureau. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Apr 21, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2041_HD2 → SB2041_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill shifts from a strategy of studying and reforming the Land Court to immediately repealing it and transferring its functions to the Bureau of Conveyances. The changes simplify the property registration system by eliminating the dual-track approach, while establishing a working group to oversee the transition and recommend further reforms.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from maintaining the Land Court to completely abolishing it and moving all related duties to the Bureau of Conveyances.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement to review and analyze operational issues before deciding to end the Land Court, replacing it with an immediate directive to repeal the system.

Added a mandate for the administrative judge and Bureau of Conveyances to set specific dates by which no new title applications or certificates will be issued by the Land Court.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from the distant future (July 1, 3000) to July 1, 2050, with specific sections taking effect on different dates.

FISCAL

Modified the purpose of appropriated funds from supporting the working group's administrative expenses to informing registered owners about the requirement to deregister their properties.

DEFINITION

Added provisions transferring all rights, powers, and employees of the Land Court to the Bureau of Conveyances to ensure a smooth operational transition.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

13–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 14

Mar 3, 2026

D Democratic13

13 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican1

0% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 614).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Kila voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1544-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1226-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Woodson.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 34) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Inouye. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Inouye ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (13-0-1)

senate

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:17AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from WLA/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2675) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Chang, San Buenaventura.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA/JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA/JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors