SB2109 SD1

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that household emergency preparedness is a critical element of statewide resilience and continuity during hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, pandemics, supply chain disruptions, and other emergencies. The State is geographically remote and faces heightened risk from delays in external response and support during major disasters, increasing the importance of household self-sufficiency and advance readiness.

The legislature further finds that the Hawaii emergency management agency (HIEMA) recommends that households maintain a fourteen-day supply of essential emergency supplies, including food, water, and regularly used medications.

Only twelve per cent of households statewide appear to meet the fourteen-day standard. Indeed, household preparedness varies across counties; estimates of full adherence to the fourteen-day standard include approximately 11.5 per cent in the city and county of Honolulu, 19.5 per cent in the county of Hawaii, 8.9 per cent in Maui county, and 8.5 per cent in Kauai county. Also, many households perceive themselves as prepared while not meeting the fourteen‑day standard, indicating a substantial gap between perceived preparedness and actual readiness.

The legislature further finds that reported barriers to meeting the fourteen-day standard include limited storage space and lack of information, among other constraints. Also, limited public awareness of the fourteen-day standard remains a key obstacle.

The legislature further finds that households that are aware of HIEMA's updated fourteen-day recommendation and households that are familiar with general preparedness guidelines are more likely to be prepared and to comply with recommended stockpiling for water, food, and medical supplies.

The legislature further finds that residents' preferred channels for receiving preparedness information differ by age group, supporting the need for a coordinated, multi-channel communications strategy, including television for older groups and internet news and social media for younger groups. Research recommends a statewide multi-media communications plan and strategy, including television, internet, radio, and mobile applications, to raise public awareness of HIEMA's recommended fourteen-day supply of household emergency food, water, and medicine.

The purpose of this part is to strengthen public readiness by directing the Hawaii emergency management agency to develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan, strategy, and related media assets to educate and motivate residents to maintain a fourteen-day supply of food, water, and essential medications, using culturally appropriate, accessible, and multilingual materials to meet the language access needs of residents with limited English proficiency, and to evaluate and report progress to the legislature.

SECTION 2. Chapter 127A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§127A-A Fourteen-day emergency preparedness communications program. (a) The agency shall develop and implement a statewide public education and communications program to increase household preparedness consistent with the agency's fourteen-day essential supplies recommendation for food, water, and regularly used medications.

(b) The program shall include the development of a comprehensive communications plan and the creation and dissemination of related media assets. At a minimum, the plan shall:

(1) Identify priority audiences, with attention to populations disproportionately impacted by disasters, including but not limited to households with low incomes, kupuna, persons with disabilities or access and functional needs, medically vulnerable individuals, and communities with limited English proficiency;

(2) Provide clear, actionable guidance on how households can build and maintain a fourteen-day supply through phased and affordable steps, including messaging that supports dignity, practicality, and realistic household budgeting, and that addresses commonly reported barriers including limited storage space and information gaps;

(3) Include culturally relevant and multilingual communications materials appropriate for statewide use, including in formats accessible to persons with disabilities;

(4) Specify and operationalize a statewide multi‑media dissemination strategy, including television, internet news sites, social media platforms, local radio, and mobile-based communications, and tailor channel emphasis to documented age-group preferences;

(5) Establish a coordinated dissemination schedule for year-round outreach and targeted outreach during seasonal risk periods;

(6) Strengthen and expand practical information pathways for preparedness guidance, including:

(A) Maintaining and promoting updated preparedness content on the agency's website;

(B) Increasing enrollment in emergency information updates and alerts;

(C) Equipping state and county agencies and community partners with co-branded toolkits to support diffusion through trusted community ties; and

(D) Incorporating in-person or virtual informational meetings as appropriate for priority audiences; and

(7) Include an evaluation framework with measurable outcomes, including baseline and follow-up measures of:

(A) Public awareness of the agency's fourteen-day recommendation;

(B) Familiarity with emergency preparedness guidelines; and

(C) The share of households meeting the fourteen‑day readiness threshold for water, food, and medical supplies, including the share meeting the threshold for all essential supplies combined, to the extent feasible.

(1) Public service announcements for radio, television, and digital platforms;

(2) Print-ready and digital graphics, fact sheets, checklists, and household planning templates;

(3) A fourteen-day readiness social media and partner communications toolkit for organizations and agencies;

(4) Short instructional videos and multilingual audio content; and

(5) Templates that counties, community partners, and state agencies may co-brand for consistent statewide messaging.

(d) The agency may consult and coordinate with relevant state and county agencies and community partners to implement this section, including but not limited to the department of health; The department of education; The department of human services; The office of Hawaiian affairs; and county emergency management agencies, as appropriate.

(e) The agency shall incorporate targeted communications that emphasize region‑specific emergency preparedness recommendations and community‑based practices, and may implement multimedia communications and georeferenced maps to attract public attention to the urgent need for households to adhere to the agency's fourteen-day recommendations; provided that outreach should include multilingual strategies and community‑based information sessions appropriate for the State's diverse populations."

SECTION 3. (a) The Hawaii emergency management agency shall submit a report to the legislature on the implementation and outcomes of this part no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session beginning in 2027 and continuing through 2029.

(b) The report shall include, at a minimum:

(1) The comprehensive communications plan developed pursuant to section 127A-A(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, including any updates made during the reporting period;

(2) A summary of media assets produced and dissemination activities conducted, including the channels used and the frequency and timing of dissemination;

(3) A list of partner organizations engaged and the roles of each partner in dissemination, including use of co‑branded toolkits and informational sessions;

(4) Progress measures, including baseline and follow-up indicators for:

(A) Statewide and county-level public awareness of the Hawaii emergency management agency's fourteen-day essential supplies recommendation;

(B) Familiarity with emergency preparedness guidelines; and

(C) Statewide and county-level estimates of household preparedness and compliance relative to the fourteen-day recommendation for water, food, and medical supplies, including the share meeting the fourteen-day threshold for all essential supplies combined, to the extent feasible;

(5) A summary of barriers to emergency preparedness identified through evaluation activities and actions taken to address those barriers;

(6) A description of how messaging and outreach were targeted or tailored by county or audience segment, including multilingual and accessibility measures, and use of region-specific communications tools, if implemented;

(7) Expenditures of any appropriated funds and any other resources used to implement this part; and

(8) Recommendations for sustaining, improving, or expanding the fourteen-day emergency preparedness communications program.

(c) The Hawaii emergency management agency shall make the report publicly available on its website no later than ten business days after submission to the legislature.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to implement this part, including planning, community engagement, production of media assets, translation and accessibility services, evaluation, and outreach distribution costs.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii emergency management agency for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 5. The purpose of this part is to:

(1) Require the governor or mayor of a county to provide an American Sign Language interpreter during each official announcement broadcast via television or the Internet during a state of emergency;

(2) Require the governor or mayor of a county to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the American Sign Language interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are visible during the broadcast; and

(3) Require the governor or mayor of a county to provide a standardized pool feed that includes the American Sign Language interpreter in a picture-in-picture window not less than one quarter the size of the primary video and large enough to clearly see the interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands.

SECTION 6. Chapter 127A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§127A-B Official announcements; proclamations; emergencies; American Sign Language interpreter; display; requirements; picture-in-picture required. (a) Whenever the governor or mayor, as applicable, makes a proclamation pursuant to this chapter, the governor or mayor shall provide an American Sign Language interpreter who is certified by a nationally or state recognized credentialing authority at each live broadcast press conference during the state of emergency. To the greatest extent possible, the governor or mayor shall ensure that the American Sign Language interpreter is physically positioned in a manner so that the interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are always visible during a television or internet broadcast of the press conference.

(b) The governor or mayor, as applicable, shall provide a standardized pool feed for any live official announcement that includes the American Sign Language interpreter in a picture‑in‑picture window not less than one quarter the size of the primary video and large enough to clearly see the interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands. The interpreter shall not be blocked or covered by captions, graphics, or other on-screen text; provided that the captions, graphics, or other on-screen text shall be repositioned as necessary. A broadcaster that rebroadcasts the official announcement shall not be required to independently generate or insert this accessibility feature."

PART III

SECTION 7. The legislature finds that the foreign-born population in Hawaii is two hundred sixty thousand and makes up eighteen per cent of the State's total population, which is higher than the fourteen per cent of the population of the United States that is foreign-born. Immigrants to Hawaii arrive from many countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and contribute billions to the State's economic output by paying taxes, establishing new businesses, and staffing essential jobs. However, many immigrants are paid below poverty rates and lack access to social benefits.

The legislature further finds that around twenty-five per cent of the State's population speak a language other than English at home and over ten per cent have limited English proficiency. Among these other languages are Ilokano, Tagalog, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Samoan, Tongan, and Micronesian languages, including Pohnpeian, Marshallese, and Chuukese.

Without access to services and resources in these languages, many residents of Hawaii face significant barriers to participation in the community.

The legislature further finds that the Hawaii emergency management agency has one language coordinator and needs additional bilingual resources to communicate with residents with limited English proficiency, especially during emergencies. Additionally, bilingual resources are essential for the state to comply with federal and state mandates, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Presidential Executive Order 13166 of August 11, 2000, to provide language access as a condition to receive grants, contracts, and other partnerships. In 2006, the State established the Office of Language Access to affirm its commitment to civil rights and comprehensive access to services regardless of national origin.

Accordingly, the purpose of this part is to provide the Hawaii emergency management agency with resources to meet the language access needs of residents with limited English proficiency and reaffirm its commitment to civil rights. These resources will increase the Hawaii emergency management agency's capacity to serve immigrants and other residents with limited English proficiency by providing bilingual resources and services.

SECTION 8. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the Hawaii emergency management agency to expand access to bilingual resources and services.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii emergency management agency for the purposes of this part.

PART IV

SECTION 9. In codifying the new sections added by sections 2 and 6 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 10. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 11. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2109
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII