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Ka 'Aha'ōlelo Moku'āina 'O Hawai'i

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Measure details
Measure Title: RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.
Report Title: DLIR; Hawaii Employment Security Law; Unemployment Benefits; Recovery of Benefits; Assessments; Records and Reports
Description: Amends the qualifications for unemployed individuals who are able to receive unemployment benefits. Beginning 4/1/2027, removes the two-year limitation on the recoupment of overpayments and limits the amount of overpaid amount and the penalty assessment amount that can be deducted from future benefits payable to the individual. Beginning 4/1/2027, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to assess and collect a service charge for dishonored unemployment insurance assessments. Beginning 4/1/2027, specifies that employers must report separation and wage information within five calendar days of notice being sent, whether by mail or electronic notification. Beginning 4/1/2027, increases the penalty for failure to report separations or wages and for failure to file or for filing insufficient wage reports. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
Companion:
Package: None
Current Referral: LBT, WAM
Introducer(s): SAYAMA, LEE, M.
Act:

Measure Status History

Sort by Date
DateChamberStatus Text
4/16/2026SReceived notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).
4/14/2026HHouse disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
4/10/2026HReturned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 547) in amended form (SD 1).
4/10/2026SReport Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
4/9/2026SOne Day Notice 04-10-26.
4/9/2026SReported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3619) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
4/6/2026SThe committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..
4/1/2026SThe committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
3/30/2026SReport adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
3/30/2026SThe committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
3/30/2026SReported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3351) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
3/23/2026SThe committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Fevella.
3/20/2026SThe committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
3/12/2026SReferred to LBT, WAM.
3/12/2026SPassed First Reading.
3/12/2026SReceived from House (Hse. Com. No. 372).
3/10/2026HPassed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran, Grandinetti, Kapela, Perruso, Reyes Oda, Shimizu, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Amato, Garcia, Gedeon, Hussey, Iwamoto, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Poepoe voting no (10) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
3/6/2026HForty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
3/6/2026HReported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1053-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
3/4/2026HThe committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Iwamoto; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.
3/3/2026HBill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 03-04-26 2:00PM in conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
3/3/2026HThe committee(s) on CPC recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-04-26.
2/27/2026HBill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2/17/2026HPassed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with Representative(s) Garcia, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3).
2/17/2026HReported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 281-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2/10/2026HThe committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2/5/2026HBill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 02-10-26 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
1/30/2026HReferred to LAB, CPC, referral sheet 5
1/28/2026HIntroduced and Pass First Reading.
1/26/2026HPending introduction.

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All Versions of this Measure

HB2165_HD2 Link to HB2165_HD2 .PDF file
HB2165_SD1 Link to HB2165_SD1 .PDF file
HB2165_HD1 Link to HB2165_HD1 .PDF file
HB2165 Link to HB2165 .PDF file

Committee Reports

HB2165_HD1_HSCR281-26_ Link to committee report HB2165_HD1_HSCR281-26_ .PDF file (opens in new window)
HB2165_HD2_HSCR1053-26_ Link to committee report HB2165_HD2_HSCR1053-26_ .PDF file (opens in new window)
HB2165_SD1_SSCR3351_ Link to committee report HB2165_SD1_SSCR3351_ .PDF file (opens in new window)
HB2165_SD1_SSCR3619_ Link to committee report HB2165_SD1_SSCR3619_ .PDF file (opens in new window)

Testimony

HB2165_TESTIMONY_LAB_02-10-26_
HB2165_HD1_TESTIMONY_CPC_03-03-26_
HB2165_HD1_TESTIMONY_CPC_03-04-26_
HB2165_HD2_TESTIMONY_LBT_03-23-26_
HB2165_SD1_TESTIMONY_WAM_04-01-26_

Hearing Notices

LAB
2/10/26 9:30A
309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE
CPC
3/03/26 2:00P
329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE
CPC
3/04/26 2:00P
329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE
LBT
3/23/26 3:01P
CR 225 & Videoconference
WAM
4/01/26 10:03A
CR 211 & Videoconference
WAM
4/06/26 10:31A
CR 211 & Videoconference