Hawaii Bills

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 2599: RELATING TO AQUATIC PROTECTION.

Requires the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to: manage the aquatic life and aquatic resources of the State, giving the highest priority to protecting, restoring, and maintaining ecosystem integrity and using the best peer-reviewed scientific data available; maintain reefs and each native species within them at levels no less than the best peer-reviewed science suggests is able to comfortably withstand the worst coral bleaching events and other likely threats to reef ecosystem health in the subsequent five decades; and set goals, make plans, and take action to substantially increase coral-reef resilience with annual reports to the Legislature. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Environment

Cory Chun (D) Gregg Takayama (D) Terez Amato (D) Nicole Lowen (D) Kyle Yamashita (D)

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 3332: RELATING TO STATE-FUNDED TRAVEL.

Requires reports on travel taken by certain state agencies and for the reports to be submitted to the money committees of the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 2005: RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

HB 2005 establishes a statewide language access education and workforce development program at the University of Hawaii, funded through state appropriations. The program aims to train workers in language access services, directly impacting the University of Hawaii system and future state workforce development efforts. It requires the university to develop training curricula and implement the program, with funding allocated for this purpose. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000 (a date likely reflecting a typo in the official record).

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 2386: RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT EARNINGS.

Clarifies that the requirement to disclose hourly rates or salary ranges on job listings applies to full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal employment. Repeals the exemption for employers having fewer than fifty employees from the disclosure requirement. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 3032: RELATING TO BEACHES.

Clarifies that the prohibition on the mining or taking of beach or marine deposits, including sand, seaward from the shoreline applies to licensed and unlicensed contractors. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 2798: RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Makes permanent the Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program established pursuant to Act 235, SLH 2025. Renames the program as the Agricultural Enforcement Program and expands the program statewide. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Immigration

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 2929: RELATING TO PUBLIC NOTICE.

Authorizes government agencies to satisfy public notice requirements by electronic posting on official state or county websites or electronic calendars, while preserving traditional publication as an option. Directs the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, in consultation with the Access Hawaii Committee, to adopt rules governing the implementation of electronic notice before the electronic notice authorization takes legal effect. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 1878: RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION.

Prohibits discrimination based on: (1) The perception that a person possesses certain characteristics; (2) The perception that a person is associated with a person who possesses, or is perceived to possess, certain characteristics; or (3) The intersection or combination of two or more specified characteristics in relation to a person. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SCR 93: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS AND STATEWIDE OFFICE ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED SUPPORT AND STABILIZATION PATHWAY FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN BENEFICIARIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR EXTREMELY LOW INCOME.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to create a coordinated support system for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries facing homelessness or extremely low income. The bill directs these agencies to assess the number of affected individuals, identify service gaps, and explore options like transitional housing models on trust lands. It also mandates the development of a report within a year outlining funding sources, partnership opportunities, and program safeguards while ensuring compliance with the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. This measure focuses on improving collaboration between agencies to provide more comprehensive assistance to this specific population without changing existing laws.

Topics ✓ Housing

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SCR 168: REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO CONVENE A DEMOLITION WASTE REDUCTION WORKING GROUP.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development in Hawaii to create a Demolition Waste Reduction Working Group to address landfill capacity issues and reduce construction waste. The proposed working group will include representatives from government agencies, private sector industries, and community organizations to develop strategies for increasing deconstruction and material reuse across the state. Key tasks include identifying waste reduction solutions, creating policy incentives for sustainable practices, and ensuring environmental justice considerations are addressed in recommendations. The group is required to submit annual reports with findings and proposed legislation to the Legislature, with a focus on promoting a circular construction economy and reducing landfill dependency.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SCR 201: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REISSUE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE JOB ORDER CONTRACTING PROGRAM CONTRACTORS AND PREQUALIFIED SMALL CONTRACTORS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF THE FUTURE SCHOOLS NOW PROGRAM.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to reissue Requests for Proposals for contractors and prequalified small contractors to continue the Future Schools Now program, which uses job order contracting to repair school facilities more quickly and efficiently than traditional methods. The bill directly affects the state's public school system by ensuring uninterrupted access to construction services for addressing a backlog of over $1 billion in deferred maintenance needs across aging school facilities. Key provisions ask the department to initiate new procurement contracts in 2026 before existing agreements expire, maintain the use of job order contracting for accelerated repairs, and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027 detailing the program's performance metrics.

Topics ✓ Education

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SCR 140: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA TO ADOPT ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING AS A PRIMARY STRATEGY TO ADDRESS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION AND IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY STATEWIDE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution in Hawaii asks the Department of Education to study how mental health-related absences affect student attendance and well-being. The study will examine how often students miss school due to mental or behavioral health concerns, review policies in other states that allow such absences, and evaluate whether recognizing these absences as excused could improve student outcomes. The Department of Education is requested to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026, which may include suggestions for policy or legislative changes. This measure does not change current laws but seeks to gather data to inform future decisions about student attendance policies.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Bill results