SB 891 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Summary

Establishes a Tourism and Gaming Working Group within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB891_SD1_PROPOSED → SB891_SD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from Session 1 to Session 2, renaming the 'Gaming Working Group' to a 'Tourism and Gaming Working Group' to broaden its focus. The composition of the group was significantly altered by replacing specific corporate representatives with new members representing Native Hawaiian culture, social services, and law enforcement. Most notably, the effective date of the bill was delayed from immediate approval to July 1, 2050, and the reimbursement rules for working group members were clarified to exclude those representing for-profit gaming organizations.

Scope change

The scope expanded to include tourism alongside gaming, and the membership criteria were broadened to include diverse cultural and social perspectives rather than just specific corporate interests.

SCOPE

The working group was renamed from 'Gaming Working Group' to 'Tourism and Gaming Working Group', expanding its mandate to include tourism policy.

REQUIREMENT

The list of required members was changed to include representatives for Native Hawaiian culture and social services dealing with behavioral addictions, while removing specific corporate representatives like Boyd Gaming and DraftKings.

New members were added to represent law enforcement and taxation departments.

TIMELINE

The bill's effective date was postponed from immediate enactment to July 1, 2050.

ELIGIBILITY

Reimbursement for working group members was restricted to exclude employees of the State and individuals representing for-profit gaming organizations.

SB891_HD1 → SB891_SD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was transitioned from a House version (HD1) to a Senate version (SD1), renaming the proposed 'Tourism and Gaming Working Group' to simply the 'Gaming Working Group' to remove the tourism focus. The scope of the group's duties was significantly narrowed by removing provisions to examine addiction mitigation, financial harms, and specific tourism strategies, while retaining the mandate to study gaming at New Aloha Stadium. Membership composition was altered to include specific corporate representatives (Boyd Gaming, DraftKings, MGM) and public members, replacing previous slots for government agency representatives and community groups. Additionally, the bill's effective date was changed from a distant future date (July 1, 3000) to immediate effect upon approval, and the working group was granted immunity from certain state statutes regarding its participation.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a broad 'Tourism and Gaming' initiative to a narrower 'Gaming' initiative, removing specific mandates to address addiction, financial harm, and tourism policy.

SCOPE

The working group's name was changed from 'Tourism and Gaming Working Group' to 'Gaming Working Group', removing the explicit tourism mandate from the title.

REQUIREMENT

Provisions requiring the group to examine strategies for mitigating gambling addiction, health hazards, and financial harms were deleted.

The requirement to develop a comprehensive 'tourism gaming policy framework' was changed to a general 'gaming policy framework'.

The requirement for members to serve without compensation was removed; members are now explicitly reimbursed for expenses.

ELIGIBILITY

Membership composition was changed to include specific corporate representatives from Boyd Gaming, DraftKings, and MGM, replacing previous slots for state agency representatives and community associations.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a provision stating that working group members cannot be subject to Chapter 84 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes solely due to their participation.

TIMELINE

The bill's effective date was changed from July 1, 3000, to immediate effect upon approval.

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

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from ECD/TOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1496) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on TOU recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Tam, Holt, Ilagan, Todd; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Templo, Matsumoto; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Hussey; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Holt, Tam, Todd; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Templo, Matsumoto; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Hussey; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to ECD/TOU, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 216) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Rhoads. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Lee, C..

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-28-25 10:35AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 2) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 597) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 2) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to EDT, WAM.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted, as amended (SD 1) and recommitted to EDT.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 115) as amended (SD 1), with recommendation of recommittal to EDT.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS and be recommitted. The votes in EDT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Fukunaga, Kim, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT will hold a public decision making on 02-06-25 1:20PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDT.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors