SB 2795 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN FLAG.

Summary

Requires cooperative housing corporations, planned community associations, and condominium associations to allow owners to display the Hawaiian flag within the owner's property. Allows reasonable time, place, manner, and size restrictions on Hawaiian flag displays to protect a documented substantial interest of the association or corporation. Authorizes cooperative housing corporations, planned community associations, and condominium associations to impose stricter size restrictions on Hawaiian flag displays or eliminate the flagpole or have its height lowered if the documented substantial interest is related to health or safety. Effective 9/9/2129. (HD1)

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 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2795_SD1 → SB2795_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision updates the legislative history to reflect a second session (SD2) and adds specific language allowing property owners to reduce flagpole height or flag size if a 'documented substantial interest' relates to health or safety. It also changes the effective date from September 9, 2129, to March 4, 2026, and modifies the bill's summary to explicitly authorize stricter size restrictions or flagpole modifications for safety reasons.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same regarding which entities (corporations and associations) can regulate flag displays, but the conditions under which they can enforce stricter rules have been expanded to include documented health and safety concerns.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from September 9, 2129, to March 4, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

Added a provision allowing flagpoles to be eliminated or lowered, and flags to be smaller, if a documented substantial interest is related to health or safety.

DEFINITION

Changed references to 'substantial interest' to 'documented substantial interest' in sections governing corporations and associations.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect the second session (SD2) and revised the legislative findings to include additional historical context about the flag.

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 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1266-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Kong, Garrett, Lee, M., Sayama, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to CAA, CPC, JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 295) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). 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 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

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from HWN/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2641) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HWN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, Lamosao, Ihara, Keohokalole, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HWN/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 9:30AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to HWN/CPN, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors