Hawaii Bills

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 567: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Rehabilitation Council, Gubernatorial Nominee, JAMES MONTGOMERY, for a term to expire 06-30-2027.

Bill GM 567 submits Governor Josh Green's nomination of James Montgomery for appointment to the Hawaii State Rehabilitation Council, with a term expiring June 30, 2027. This procedural bill requires the Senate to review and confirm the appointment before Montgomery can serve. The nomination directly affects the State Rehabilitation Council, which advises the state on rehabilitation services, and Montgomery if confirmed. The bill does not create new policy but follows standard confirmation procedures for state council appointments.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 553: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Gubernatorial Nominee, ANNE CHIPCHASE, for a term to expire 06-30-2029.

This bill (GM 553) is a procedural nomination submission by Governor Josh Green for Anne Chipchase to serve on the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. It requests the Hawaii Senate confirm Chipchase's appointment for a term ending June 30, 2029. The bill does not create new policy or affect any specific group; it solely initiates the confirmation process for a gubernatorial nominee to an existing state council position. No substantive changes or legislative action are involved beyond the routine confirmation requirement.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 570: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Rehabilitation Council, Gubernatorial Nominee, CHRISTINE PARK, for a term to expire 06-30-2028.

This is a procedural nomination bill, not a policy measure. Governor Josh Green has submitted Christine Park for confirmation to the State Rehabilitation Council, where she would serve until June 30, 2028. The bill follows Hawaii's constitutional requirement (Article V, Section 6) for the Governor to submit council nominations to the Senate for confirmation. It does not change any laws or affect public policy - it simply initiates the standard confirmation process for a gubernatorial appointment.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 638: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Gubernatorial Nominee, JAMES CARPIO, for a term to expire 06-30-2029.

This is a procedural nomination submission (not a legislative bill), formally submitted by Governor Josh Green on January 21, 2026, for James Carpio's confirmation to the Board of Land and Natural Resources. It directly affects the Governor, the Senate (which must confirm the appointment), and the Board itself, as it seeks Senate approval for Carpio's appointment. The nomination specifies a term ending June 30, 2029, as required by Hawaii's Constitution. (GM 638, Governor's submission letter dated January 21, 2026).

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 637: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Gubernatorial Nominee, CALVIN YOUNG, for a term to expire 06-30-2029.

This is a procedural submission, not a legislative bill. Governor Josh Green has submitted Calvin Young's nomination for confirmation to serve on the Board of Land and Natural Resources, with a term ending June 30, 2029. The nomination requires Senate confirmation per Hawaii Constitution Article V, Section 6. It directly affects the Governor's authority to appoint board members and the Senate's confirmation process.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 636: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Gubernatorial Nominee, DENISE ISERI-MATSUBARA, for a term to expire 06-30-2029.

This is a procedural submission, not a legislative bill. Governor Josh Green has formally nominated Denise Iseri-Matsubara for confirmation to the Board of Land and Natural Resources, a state agency overseeing Hawaii's natural resources and public lands. The nomination requires Senate confirmation, and if approved, her term would expire on June 30, 2029. This document serves only to submit the nomination for the Senate's review and approval process.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 515: Submitting for consideration and confirmation as the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, Gubernatorial Nominee, JON ITOMURA, for a term to expire 06-30-2032.

This is a procedural nomination submission, not a policy bill. Governor Green has formally submitted Jon Itomura for Senate confirmation as Chairperson of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, with a term ending June 30, 2032. The nomination requires Senate confirmation per Hawaii Constitution Article V, Section 6. It directly affects the Public Utilities Commission's leadership and the Senate's confirmation process. No policy changes or mechanisms are involved in this routine appointment request.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 6, 2026

GM 747: Submitting for consideration and confirmation as the Director of the Department of Budget and Finance, Gubernatorial Nominee, SETH COLBY, for a term to expire 12-07-2026.

This bill is a nomination by Governor Josh Green to appoint Seth Colby as the Director of the Department of Budget and Finance in Hawaii. The appointment is for a term that will expire on December 7, 2026, and requires Senate confirmation under the state constitution. The legislation does not create new policies or spending changes but serves as a procedural step to fill an administrative leadership position.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 6, 2026

GM 774: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board, Gubernatorial Nominee, DOUGLAS MOORE, for a term to expire 06-30-2036.

This bill nominates Douglas Moore for a position on the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board in Hawaii, a state agency that handles disputes between employees and employers. The nomination is submitted by Governor Josh Green for confirmation by the state Senate, following the standard process for filling public office vacancies. If confirmed, Moore would serve on the board until June 30, 2036, where he would participate in reviewing and deciding appeals related to labor and employment issues. The bill does not create new laws or policies but rather seeks to appoint an individual to an existing governmental body.

signed · Hawaii · House May 6, 2026

HB 1516: RELATING TO PRETRIAL RELEASE.

HB 1516 requires courts to consider a defendant's actual financial ability to pay bail when determining pretrial release conditions. This bill directly affects individuals facing pretrial detention decisions, particularly those with limited financial resources. The key provision mandates that judges evaluate specific factors related to a defendant's financial situation before setting bail amounts. The bill is currently in its early stages, having been introduced and passed first reading on January 21, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed both · Hawaii · House May 6, 2026

HB 1550: RELATING TO HEALTH.

HB 1550 removes drug testing products (like home kits or workplace screening tools) from the legal definition of "drug paraphernalia" under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. This change directly affects businesses that sell these products and individuals who use them, as they will no longer face penalties for possessing them under current drug paraphernalia laws. The bill achieves this by amending the statute to specifically exclude these testing products from the prohibited category. The policy change clarifies legal status without altering broader drug control provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 6, 2026

GM 523: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Tax Review Commission, Gubernatorial Nominee, JONATHAN WHITE, for a term to expire 05-08-2026. (Term corrected to 05-07-2027 by GM675).

This bill is a gubernatorial nomination for Jonathan White to serve on Hawaii's Tax Review Commission, with a term ending May 7, 2027 (corrected from the original May 8, 2026 date via another bill). The Senate must consider and confirm this appointment to fill the vacancy on the commission. The nomination follows Hawaii's constitutional requirement (Article V, Section 6) for gubernatorial nominations of commission members to be submitted to the Senate for confirmation. This procedural step does not create new policy but advances the appointment process for a specific government position.

Bill results