SB 418 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO REGULATORY SUNSET REVIEW IN HAWAII.

Summary

Establishes a regulatory review program overseen by the Department of the Attorney General to evaluate all Hawaii Administrative Rules adopted by state agencies and identify any rules that should be retained, modified or repealed. Requires each state agency to review 20 per cent of their rules every year and submit a report to the Department of the Attorney General. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to notify the Governor and Legislature of any noncompliance by a state agency, adopt rules, and submit annual reports to the Legislature and Governor. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2525. (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

SB418 → SB418_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House bill to a Senate version, shifting the lead agency for the regulatory review program from the Attorney General to the Department of the Attorney General. The most significant substantive change is the effective date, which was moved from July 1, 2025, to January 1, 2525, likely a clerical error. Additionally, the public input requirements were simplified, removing mandates for agencies to publish rule lists and host hearings, while the automatic repeal penalty for non-compliance was removed.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from requiring state agencies to seek public input (including hearings) to only requiring the Department of the Attorney General to accept public comments. The enforcement mechanism was also removed, as the automatic repeal of rules for non-compliant agencies was deleted.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from July 1, 2025, to January 1, 2525, which appears to be a significant clerical error.

REQUIREMENT

Public input requirements were reduced; state agencies no longer need to publish rule lists or host public hearings, though the Department of the Attorney General must still accept comments.

The lead agency for overseeing the program was changed from the 'department of the attorney general' to the 'Department of the Attorney General'.

ENFORCEMENT

The provision automatically repealing administrative rules if an agency fails to comply with the review cycle was deleted.

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 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 189) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) 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, WAM/JDC.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

6 primary · 1 co-sponsor