SB 757 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO LIBRARIES.

Summary

Requires reasonable terms in license agreements for digital literary materials between libraries and publishers. Defines prohibited terms for license agreements between libraries and publishers. Declares offer of a license agreement with a prohibited term an unfair or deceptive act. Makes a license agreement with a prohibited term void and unconscionable. Creates a right of action by libraries, library officers and borrowers. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB757 → SB757_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the legislative metadata to reflect a Senate amendment, clarifies that preservation copies must comply with federal law, and significantly delays the effective date of the new digital library protections to July 1, 2050. The changes ensure that existing contracts are not impaired and provide a long transition period before the new rules on publisher license agreements take effect.

Scope change

The bill's applicability is delayed until July 1, 2050, and it now explicitly requires that preservation copies of digital materials adhere to federal law.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from immediate approval to July 1, 2050, providing a long delay before new rules apply.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added stating that non-public preservation copies of digital materials must be made in accordance with federal law.

TECHNICAL

A new section was added to ensure the Act does not impair any contracts existing as of the effective date, complying with state and federal constitutions.

The bill title and report description were updated to reflect the Senate amendment and the new effective date.

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 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 433) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/JDC.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kidani, Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kanuha.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 3:02PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDU, CPN/JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

4 primary · 2 co-sponsors