CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 91-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2876

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2876, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require natural hair braiders to be registered, rather than licensed, under the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology; and

(2) Require the Board to adopt rules prescribing the approved courses or programs that cover sanitation, health, and safety practices required for natural hair braiding.

Your Committee on Conference finds that natural hair braiders practice the craft of twisting, braiding, weaving, and locking natural hair. Your Committee on Conference further finds that natural hair braiding is a safe practice that does not customarily involve cutting, dyeing, application of heat, or use of caustic chemicals and is often practiced by women serving minority communities. However, natural hair braiding still involves direct contact with clients and the failure to follow safe practices could pose health and safety risks for those clients. This measure balances regulatory oversight of natural hair braiding to ensure compliance with sanitation standards by requiring registration with the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, rather than licensure, for individuals practicing natural hair braiding in the State.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to clarify that the requirement for a natural hair braider to be registered with the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology shall begin on January 1, 2028;

(2) Deleting language that would have required evidence of completion of a course or program that covers certain sanitation practices required for registration to be provided by November 1, 2026 and instead clarifying that the Board shall adopt rules establishing sanitation practices for registration no later than November 1, 2026;

(3) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2876, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2876, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI Chair	____________________________ RACHELE LAMOSAO Chair
	____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Co-Chair