SB 3247 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Summary

Establishes a Royal Mausoleum Commission within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement policy for the preservation, operation, and outreach of Mauna ʻAla. Requires the Royal Mausoleum Commission to report annually to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action Apr 21, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB3247_HD3 → SB3247_SD1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to replace the 'Royal Mausoleum Commission' with a 'Royal Mausoleum Working Group,' shifting the body's role from having independent policy-making authority to creating management policies within the department. The membership composition was significantly expanded to include more specific representatives from ali'i trusts, royal societies, and lineal descendants, while adding new requirements for conflict of interest disclosure and public notice before adopting rules that burden traditional practices. The effective date of the bill was changed from July 1, 3000, to September 9, 2129.

Scope change

The scope changed from an independent commission with broad policy-making power to a working group that creates policies within the department and must adhere to stricter procedural requirements regarding traditional practices and conflict of interest.

SCOPE

Changed the body from an independent 'Commission' with policy-making authority to a 'Working Group' that creates potential management policies within the department.

ELIGIBILITY

Replaced a single representative from each group with specific quotas (e.g., five representatives from ali'i trusts, four from royal societies) and added new categories like an island burial council representative.

REQUIREMENT

Added mandatory conflict of interest disclosure and recusal procedures for all voting members.

Added requirements for public notice and written findings before adopting rules that substantially burden traditional and customary practices.

Added a requirement for the working group to submit a brief report every six months in addition to the final comprehensive report.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions for contested case hearings regarding final actions that burden traditional practices or affect the official kahu.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 3000, to September 9, 2129.

DEFINITION

Added new statutory definitions for 'Hale Hoʻolulu', 'Kahu family', 'Lineal descendant', 'Substantially burden', and 'Traditional and customary practice'.

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

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 768).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3 with Representative(s) Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran voting no (1) and none excused (0). 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: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1550-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Sayama, Cochran.

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1302-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 19, 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, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 129) 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 10:57AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from HWN/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2504) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Inouye ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.

upper

Feb 12, 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 HWN/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to HWN/WLA, WAM.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors