SB 2938 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.

Summary

Establishes the Office of the State Search and Rescue Coordinator within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Provides for the authority and duties of the State Search and Rescue Coordinator. Designates participating agencies and their duties with regard to state search and rescue operations and training. Establishes the Search and Rescue Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Requires the Administrator of Emergency Management to hire the Coordinator by 1/1/2027. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2525. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2938 → SB2938_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to move the new State Search and Rescue Coordinator office from the Governor's office to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA), aligning it with the state's existing emergency response structure. The revision also corrects a significant typo in the effective date, changing it from the future year 2026 to 2025, and updates the hiring authority to the HIEMA administrator rather than the Governor.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a standalone Governor's office to an integrated component of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, changing the reporting chain and administrative oversight for search and rescue operations.

SCOPE

The office of the State Search and Rescue Coordinator was moved from the Office of the Governor to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA).

REQUIREMENT

The State Search and Rescue Coordinator now reports to the HIEMA administrator instead of the Governor.

TIMELINE

The effective date was corrected from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2025, and the hiring deadline was updated to January 1, 2027.

FISCAL

The appropriation of funds is now directed to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency instead of the Office of the Governor.

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 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2528) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-26 3:01PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to GVO, WAM/JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor