THE SENATE

KA AHA KENEKOA

 

THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2026

 

COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair

Senator Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair

 

NOTICE OF DECISION MAKING

 

 

DATE:

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

TIME:

9:40 AM

PLACE:

Conference Room 016 & Videoconference

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

TIMESLOT:

JDC

 

 

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 G E N D A

 

The following measure(s) were previously heard in their respective subject matter committees:

 

SB 2981

      (SSCR2594)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Beginning 7/1/2027, prohibits minimum off-street parking requirements for any new development in an urban district.  Requires each county to amend or repeal any charter provision, ordinance, code, standard, or administrative procedure that imposes a minimum off-street parking requirement by 7/1/2027.

 

WLA/EIG/HOU, JDC

SB 2982, SD1

      (SSCR2518)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Prohibits foreign entities and foreign-influenced business entities from making contributions, expenditures, electioneering communications, or donations for election purposes.  Requires every business entity that contributes or expends funds in a state election to certify that the entity was not a foreign corporation or foreign-influenced business entity when the contribution or expenditure was made.  Specifies that if the conditions that determine whether a business entity qualifies as a foreign-influenced business entity are held unconstitutional by a final judgment, including all appeals, the Campaign Spending Commission is required to establish revised conditions that are constitutional.  Requires noncandidate committees making only independent expenditures to obtain a statement of certification from each top contributor required to be listed in an advertisement avowing that no funds were derived from foreign entities or foreign-influenced business entities.  Exempts entities engaged in transporting cargo and subject to section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920.  Effective 1/1/2028.  (SD1)

 

WLA, JDC

SB 2983, SD1

      (SSCR2417)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES.

Establishes the offense of criminal destruction of a tree on state or county property, punishable as a misdemeanor.  Effective 1/1/2525.  (SD1)

 

GVO, JDC

SB 2986, SD1

      (SSCR2519)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Authorizes the Land Use Commission to amend, revise, or modify a decision and order granting a district boundary amendment, or fine a petitioner, upon finding that a petitioner or its successors or assigns have not adhered to the conditions imposed by the commission, regardless of whether there has been substantial commencement of use of the land.  Defines "substantial commencement".  (SD1)

 

WLA, JDC

SB 2991

      (SSCR2448)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

Clarifies that persons whose driver's licenses have been revoked for certain alcohol-related offenses are required to undergo reexamination before the examiner of drivers may relicense the person.

 

TRS, JDC

SB 3001, SD1

      (SSCR2388)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Requires operators of conversational artificial intelligence services in the State to issue certain disclosures to account holders and users.  Requires operators to develop protocols to prevent the production of suicidal ideations in account holders and users.  Establishes protections for minor account holders of conversational artificial intelligence services.  Beginning January 1, 2028, requires operators to submit annual reports to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs containing certain information.  Allows the Department of the Attorney General to bring a civil action against operators who violate certain requirements and establishes statutory penalties.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

CPN/LBT, JDC

SB 3010, SD1

      (SSCR2370)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO ANIMAL ENDANGERMENT.

Allows law enforcement officers, animal control officers, and firefighters to enter an unattended vehicle to protect the health, safety, or well-being of a pet animal that is endangered by being left or confined in an unattended vehicle.  Allows private citizens to rescue a pet animal that has been left in an unattended vehicle under certain circumstances.  (SD1)

 

PSM, JDC

SB 3014

      (SSCR2622)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO WILDLIFE.

Increases the fines for taking or harassing protected turtles in the State.

 

WLA/AEN, JDC

SB 3032, SD1

      (SSCR2522)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO BEACHES.

Clarifies that the prohibition on the taking or mining of beach or marine deposits, including sand, seaward from the shoreline includes licensed and unlicensed contractors.  (SD1)

 

WLA, JDC

SB 3033, SD1

      (SSCR2595)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT.

Allows public petition to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for review of the integrity of beach structures.  Requires the Department to recommend the applicable county agency to order the owner of any beach structure determined to be imminently threatened to resolve, mitigate, and plan for the harmful effects of the beach structure.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

WLA/EIG, JDC

 

 

 

 

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 Hawaii 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 JDCcommittee@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)586-6130.

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________

Senator Karl Rhoads

Chair