SB 2781 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO LEI.

Summary

Requires and establishes benchmarks for each state executive agency to ensure that a certain percentage of lei purchased by that executive agency consists of lei made of natural objects and plant materials grown, harvested, and assembled in the State. Establishes labeling requirements for lei and lei materials. Requires the disclosure of the geographic origin for the plant materials and natural objects that comprise a lei or lei materials. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action May 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2781_HD2 → SB2781_SD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was fundamentally rewritten to remove immediate mandates for state agencies to purchase locally grown lei and to eliminate strict labeling and penalty requirements. Instead of enforcing specific percentages or rules right away, the new version directs the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to form a working group to study the local floriculture industry and gather data before taking further action.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from immediate regulatory enforcement of purchasing benchmarks and labeling rules to a preliminary research and study phase involving a temporary working group.

REQUIREMENT

Removed mandatory benchmarks requiring state agencies to purchase a specific percentage of locally grown lei by 2032, 2037, and 2042.

Removed the ban on state agencies purchasing lei containing plant materials grown outside the State.

Added a requirement for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to convene a six-member working group to study the local floriculture industry.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed labeling requirements for 'Hawaii Grown' or 'Hawaii Made' and penalties for non-compliance.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 3000, to January 1, 2525, and established a sunset date for the working group on June 30, 2027.

SCOPE

Replaced direct procurement mandates with a directive to gather data on flower farms, production capacity, and barriers faced by local growers.

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

Amendments

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:15 PM; Conference Room 411.

upper

Apr 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 05-01-26 11:15AM; Conference Room 016.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 699).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon voting no (2) 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, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Gedeon; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1394-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Lowen, Perruso, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 294) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). 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, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN/WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:16AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2627) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/WAM.

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to GVO, CPN/WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors