SB 2596 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT LEASES.

SB 2596 requires state government agencies to charge no more than $1 per year for leases of real property they use. This directly affects state agencies that lease buildings or land for operations, such as offices or facilities. The bill sets a strict annual cost limit on these government leases as a procedural rule, with no additional mechanisms or exemptions described in the provided text.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Mar 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2596_HD1 → SB2596_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was revised from a House Draft (HD1) to a Senate Draft (SD1), updating metadata such as author names and revision numbers. The most significant substantive change is the removal of a specific effective date of July 1, 3000, replacing it with a provision that the act takes effect upon approval. This change allows the legislation to become active immediately rather than waiting for a distant future date.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the implementation timeline changed from a fixed future date to immediate effect upon approval.

TIMELINE

Removed the specific effective date of July 1, 3000, which was previously set for the act to take effect.

Added a provision stating that the act shall take effect upon its approval.

TECHNICAL

Updated metadata including author names (Emma Berman to Jordon Higa), revision numbers, and template identifiers to reflect the Senate draft 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 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1526-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Poepoe, Woodson; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Shimizu, Souza; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 266) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:55AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from WLA/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2671) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Hashimoto, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WLA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-19-26 3:10PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA/GVO, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors