KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair |
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Senator Sharon Y. Moriwaki, Vice Chair |
AMENDED NOTICE OF DECISION MAKING
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DATE: |
Thursday, March 5, 2026 |
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TIME: |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 211 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
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TIMESLOT: |
WAM |
PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY
A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.
A M E N D E D A G E N D A
The following measure(s) were previously heard in their respective subject matter committees:
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RELATING TO HOUSING. Increases the salary cap of the Executive Director of Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to an amount that does not exceed the Governor's salary. Renames the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Executive Director and increases that position's salary cap to 95% of the Executive Director salary. Establishes the position of Finance Director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Requires HHFDC to consider additional measures of personnel performance. Prohibits HHFDC and Hawaii Public Housing Authority employment contracts that exceed 2 years, unless approved by the Legislature. Provides HHFDC and HPHA with autonomy in personnel matters. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. For taxable years beginning 1/1/2026, establishes a tiered nonrefundable tax credit for qualified taxpayer insurers that offer one or more federally qualified health savings account-eligible high deductible health plans in the State, under certain conditions, and increasing the tax credit to incentivize more plans being written for residents in rural medically underserved areas of the State. Requires qualified taxpayer insurers to match up to a certain amount of a policyholder's first-time contribution into a health savings account. Sunsets 12/31/2030. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, WAM |
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RELATING TO CIVIL INTERFERENCE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY RIGHTS. Establishes a civil cause of action for interference with constitutional and statutory rights through threats, intimidation, or coercion. Authorizes private rights of action. Authorizes actions to be brought by the Attorney General, County Corporation Counsel, or County Attorney. Authorizes injunctive relief, declaratory relief, and certain monetary relief. Includes protections for constitutionally protected speech. (SD1)
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JDC, WAM |
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RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS. Establishes a three-year Homelessness Sanctuary Pilot Program to be administered by the Coordinator on Homelessness, in coordination with the Department of Human Services and the City and County of Honolulu, on designated land for the pilot program, which shall serve as a safe location for unhoused primary caregivers and children under the age of eighteen to reside and access services. Requires the Coordinator on Homelessness and the Coordinator's partner agencies to provide certain facilities and services to the designated location. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS BOARD. Exempts certain positions of the Law Enforcement Standards Board from the State's Civil Service Law and collective bargaining requirements. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
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LBT/PSM, WAM |
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RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY. Requires each purchasing agency to provide justification for hiring external consultants. Requires each agency to seek approval from the Legislature for consulting contracts exceeding a certain dollar amount. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Compliance Audit Unit within the Office of the Auditor to conduct regular audits of agency consultant contracts to assess cost-effectiveness and compliance. Establishes exceptions. Requires each chief procurement officer to ensure that inherent government functions are not delegated to a contractor. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)
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GVO, WAM |
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RELATING TO ESSENTIAL PERMITTING POSITIONS. Authorizes a mayor to establish a pilot program to improve the speed, accountability, and quality of permit processing through targeted staffing, performance incentives, and interdepartmental competition within participating counties. Authorizes a mayor to designate any number of positions as essential permitting positions across departments involved in permit review, permit processing, or both. Authorizes the payment of a minimum differential payment to assist in employee recruitment and retention. Authorizes the hiring of essential permitting positions at salaries above the minimum salary within the approved salary range. Requires personnel departments to prioritize the hiring of individuals into essential permitting positions over other positions. Authorizes counties to use revenues from the county surcharge on state tax pursuant to pay for pilot program expenses. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 4/19/2042. (SD1)
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EIG, WAM |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Establishes the Conservation and Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Pilot Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/28. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AEN, WAM |
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Decision making meeting only, no oral testimony will be accepted.
Persons wishing to submit written testimony may do so up to 24 hours prior to the hearing. Click here to submit written testimony.
All testimony received by the Hawai‘i Senate is posted on the Hawai‘i Legislature's website, which is accessible to the public. Please do not include private information that you do not want disclosed to the public.
For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email WAMcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.
FOR AMENDED NOTICES: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored. If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT (808)586-6800.
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_____________________________________ Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz Chair |