SB 381 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PUBLIC AGENCY MEETINGS.

Summary

Requires appointments and selections of heads of state divisions and agencies that require a board approval to be made through a publicly established process and timeline. Requires the approval of the process and timeline to appoint or select a new head of a state division or agency to be determined in an open meeting. Requires that votes to appoint or select heads of state divisions and agencies be conducted in an open meeting. Provides that any vote to appoint or select a head of a state division or agency cast in violation of the foregoing shall be invalid. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB381 → SB381_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was reclassified from a House bill to a Senate District 1 bill, updating associated metadata and template versions. The most significant substantive change is the effective date, which was moved from immediate approval to January 1, 2491, likely indicating a placeholder or future-dated requirement. The core policy regarding public transparency for appointing state division heads remains unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding public meetings for appointments remains the same, but the effective date has been drastically altered to a future year.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from 'upon approval' to 'January 1, 2491'.

TECHNICAL

The bill title and metadata were updated from 'SB381' to 'SB381 SD1', changing the bill type from 'SB' to 'Bill SD' and updating version numbers.

The footer text was updated to include '(SD1)' and a specific effective date note.

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 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 314) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

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, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, Fevella.

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to GVO, JDC.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor