SB 2961 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Summary

Requires homeowners insurance policies to permit an insured who sustains a total loss from a peril for which a state of emergency was declared to (1) apply additional living expenses benefits toward the lease of a housing unit to serve as the insured's temporary primary residence; (2) pay an advance of at least four months of additional living expenses benefits; and (3) provide additional living expenses benefits for a minimum of twenty-four months, subject to policy limits. Provides for extensions of additional living expenses benefits under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

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 · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2961_HD1 → SB2961_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's homeowners insurance requirements to better support victims of disasters by clarifying that temporary housing includes RVs and tiny homes. It mandates that insurers provide advance payments of at least four months of living expenses and extend the minimum coverage duration from 24 to 36 months for total losses occurring during a state of emergency. The changes aim to reduce financial strain on survivors by ensuring longer-term support and broader housing options during recovery.

Scope change

The bill applies to all homeowners insurance policies issued or renewed in Hawaii for total losses occurring during a declared state of emergency.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'housing unit' to explicitly include recreational vehicles, manufactured homes, and tiny homes as valid temporary primary residences.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the mandatory minimum duration for additional living expenses benefits from 24 months to 36 months for total losses occurring during a state of emergency.

Clarified that advance payments of at least four months of benefits must be issued for total losses caused by covered perils occurring pursuant to a state of emergency.

Simplified the conditions for granting extensions of benefits by removing the specific requirement for six-month increments while retaining the 36-month maximum cap.

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 5:30 PM; Conference Room 224.

upper

Apr 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 2:30PM; Conference Room 224.

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 2:30PM; Conference Room 224.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 2:30PM; CR 224.

upper

Apr 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 2:30PM; Conference Room 224.

upper

Apr 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Monday, 04-27-26 2:30PM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 719).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). 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: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1536-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPC, FIN, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 92) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. 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, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:56AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2393) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 9:30AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPN, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors