KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair |
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Senator Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair |
NOTICE OF DECISION MAKING
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DATE: |
Friday, February 27, 2026 |
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TIME: |
10:30 AM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 016 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
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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:
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RELATING TO CHILD CUSTODY. Allows licensed mental health counselors to be appointed as child custody evaluators.
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HHS, JDC |
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RELATING TO JURISDICTION. Amends the factors a family court is required to consider in deciding whether the court may waive jurisdiction over a minor or adult held for criminal proceedings. Preserves the family court's jurisdiction over a minor transferred for criminal proceedings for subsequent acts that would otherwise be within the family court's jurisdiction. Requires the family court to retain jurisdiction over a minor if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the minor was trafficked, sexually abused, or raped by the alleged victim in the case before or during the commission of the alleged offense. (SD1)
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HHS, JDC |
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RELATING TO TRESPASS. Provides that any firearm or motor vehicle possessed and used by a person who hunts on private land without the permission of the owner or occupier of the land shall be forfeited to the State pursuant to chapter 712A, HRS. Authorizes a court to reduce the penalty from forfeiture to a fine of a certain amount for a first offense. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA, JDC |
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RELATING TO PRIVACY. Establishes the offense of nonconsensual disclosure of an intimate image. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
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LBT, JDC |
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RELATING TO COUNTY LABOR STANDARDS. Authorizes the counties to require contractors to disclose information regarding their employees' wages, benefits, hours, and employment status and deny, revoke, or suspend a building permit application for violating laws relating to wages, benefits, hours, and employment status, under certain conditions.
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LBT, JDC |
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RELATING TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Authorizes the Agribusiness Development Corporation to acquire by condemnation any real property or interest in real property, under certain conditions. Prohibits any real property acquired by the Corporation by condemnation from subsequently being transferred or taken for any other public use without the Corporation's consent. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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EDT, JDC |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to declare an emergency quarantine when it has been reasonably determined that there is a threat to agriculture or the environment in the State. Authorizes the Department to halt operations related to or within the affected area for ninety-six hours, subject to extension by vote of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Authorizes the Department to quarantine any business or other area that is known or reasonably suspected to be infested or infected with any pest. Requires the Department to provide certain notices to affected farmers and provide compensation. Authorizes the Department to establish interim rules governing the transportation of any material into and within the State known to harbor or transport a high-impact invasive species or pest. (SD1)
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AEN, JDC |
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RELATING TO DISPOSABLE ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES. Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits selling, offering for sale, or distributing certain disposable electronic smoking devices. (SD1)
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HHS/CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Repeals requirement that Chairperson of Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Board of Directors be a public member. Repeals prohibition on certain members of Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Board of Directors from serving as Chairperson.
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HOU, JDC |
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RELATING TO HOUSING. Authorizes a county to reduce the number of housing units that may be built within any geographical area of the county only if the county increases the number of housing units that may be built elsewhere in the county, such that there is no net loss in residential capacity in the county. (SD1)
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HOU/EIG, JDC |
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RELATING TO LAND USE. Requires any petitioner for a district boundary amendment to obtain a written statement from the Commission on Water Resources Management on water availability in the hydrologic unit or units where the parcel is located and provide that certification to the Land Use Commission. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA, JDC |
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RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY. Amends the offense of negligent injury in the first degree to include injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers. (SD1)
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TRS, JDC |
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RELATING TO COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES. Specifies that all condominium associations, boards, and managing agents are required to comply with any applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES. Requires cooperative housing corporation proxy forms to include certain language related to the selection options for proxies. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. Amends the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) to require the contracted party of each contract to perform an agency function to retain records following the retention schedule of the agency and to provide the agency access to the records upon request. Establishes that all records retained by an agency function contractor shall be deemed government records for the purposes of the UIPA. Exempts contracts entered into by the Employees' Retirement System. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)
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GVO, JDC |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE. Requires that whenever there is a difference between the English and Hawaii version of law that is material to its interpretation, priority shall be given to the language that aligns with the intent of the legislature as evidenced by legislative history, context, and purpose. Clarifies that Hawaiian shall not be required for public acts and transactions, but is welcomed. (SD1)
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HWN, JDC |
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RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS. Requires that an environmental assessment be conducted and an environmental impact statement be prepared for any proposed use within historic properties designated by the Hawaii or National Register of Historic Places, important to native Hawaiian people or to another ethnic group of the State, or determined to be eligible as a traditional cultural property or place on the National Register of Historic Places. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA/AEN, JDC |
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RELATING TO COMMUNITY CARE FOSTER FAMILY HOMES. Clarifies that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who meet an intermediate care facility or nursing facility level of care shall not be denied residency in a licensed community care foster family home solely because of their disability or enrollment in a specific medicaid waiver program. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)
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HHS, JDC |
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RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE. Requires the Office of Consumer Protection to periodically publish an accessible, multilingual notice of tenant rights. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO THE COUNTIES. Authorizes the counties to close public lands when necessary to protect public health, ensure public safety, or preserve natural or cultural resources.
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EIG/PSM, JDC |
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RELATING TO TREES. Establishes base selection criteria for exceptional trees. Establishes the significant tree designation, selection criteria, and related processes. Establishes the State Arborist Advisory Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. Requires County Arborist Advisory Committees to have at least six members, adopt new exceptional tree selection criteria, and designate significant trees. Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to cooperate with State and County Arborist Advisory Committees to carry out the Exceptional Trees Program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AEN/WLA, JDC |
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RELATING TO PROPERTY DAMAGE OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES. Establishes the offense of criminal property damage to critical infrastructure facilities as a class C felony. Expands the term "critical infrastructure" to include broadband and cable networks. Effective 9/1/2050. (SD1)
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PSM/EIG, JDC |
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RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY. Specifies that operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant while a highly intoxicated driver is a misdemeanor for a first offense, or any offense not preceded within a ten-year period. Specifies and imposes additional sentencing and probation requirements for a person convicted of a misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant offense. Upgrades the offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant while a highly intoxicated driver to a class C felony under certain conditions. Specifies and imposes additional sentencing and probation requirements for a class C felony offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant while a highly intoxicated driver. Prohibits a deferred acceptance of guilty plea guilty for persons convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. (SD1)
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TRS, JDC |
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RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS. Establishes that when a neighborhood board of the City and County of Honolulu has a vacancy, a majority of all seats that are filled shall constitute quorum to conduct business and a majority vote of the members present at the board's meeting hall validate an act of the board as part of its official business.
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GVO, JDC |
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RELATING TO COMPASSIONATE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CANNABIS. Allows terminally ill patients and qualifying patients over sixty-five years of age with chronic diseases to use medical cannabis within specified health care facilities under certain conditions. Requires enforcement by the Department of Health. (SD1)
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HHS, JDC |
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RELATING TO ZONING. Prohibits the counties from imposing certain lot requirements on lots zoned for housing on parcels of land located within the urban district for purposes of subdivision, development, or the issuance of a building permit, with certain exemptions. Allows the counties to establish a petition process for neighborhoods, subdivisions, or other geographically contiguous areas to establish or retain certain requirements or specifications. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA/HOU, JDC |
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RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires health insurance carriers to honor a patient's written assignment of benefits to a substance use disorder treatment provider. Prohibits health insurance contracts from including anti-assignment clauses that restrict or invalidate a patient's right to assign benefits. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules and take enforcement action to ensure compliance. Deems violations to be unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Requires insurers to furnish an explanation of benefits to the assigned provider upon request. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)
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HHS/CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY. Establishes a framework for the use of intelligent speed assistance technology for habitual speeders. Establishes liability for a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer regarding the design, manufacture, installation, or repair of an aftermarket intelligent speed assistance system. Requires a report to the Legislature. (SD1)
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TRS, JDC |
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RELATING TO CHARITABLE SOLICITATION. Requires professional solicitors operating public collection receptacles to solicit donations of non-perishable tangible property who later re-sell the items to deposit funds with charitable organizations within a specified timeframe, provide certain information in financial reports, and prominently disclose certain information on collection receptacles. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO THE USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE. Lowers the blood alcohol content threshold for driving while under the influence of an intoxicant. (SD1)
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TRS, JDC |
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RELATING TO THE POWERS OF ARTIFICIAL PERSONS. Reaffirms that artificial persons created under state law possess only those powers that are necessary or convenient to carry out lawful business and charitable or organizational purposes, and that those powers do not include the power to spend money or contribute anything of value to influence elections or ballot measures. Revokes all prior grants of corporate and entity powers and regrants only those powers that the State determines to be necessary or convenient to conduct lawful business under the constitution and laws of this State. Effective 1/1/2027. (SD1)
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CPN, JDC |
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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 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.
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_____________________________________ Senator Karl Rhoads Chair |
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