HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2026

 

COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY & HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS

Rep. David A. Tarnas, Chair

Rep. Mahina Poepoe, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Della Au Belatti

Rep. Jackson D. Sayama

Rep. Elle Cochran

Rep. Gregg Takayama

Rep. Mark J. Hashem

Rep. Diamond Garcia

Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa

Rep. Garner M. Shimizu

 

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Thursday, February 12, 2026

TIME:

2:00 PM

PLACE:

VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE

Conference Room 325

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

 

 

Click here to submit testimony and to testify remotely or in person.

 

A live stream link of all House Standing Committee meetings will be available online

shortly before the scheduled start time.

 

Click here for the live stream of this meeting via YouTube.

 

 

 

A G E N D A

 

HB 2046

Status

RELATING TO THE ʻŌLELO HAWAIʻI COMMISSION.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Commission to coordinate and promote initiatives that support the use of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

 

JHA, FIN

HB 2438, HD1

(HSCR37-26)

Status

RELATING TO THE HAWAII CULTURAL TRUST.

Establishes the Hawaii Cultural Trust within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.  Establishes an income tax credit for contributions made to the Hawaii Cultural Trust and qualified Hawaii cultural organizations, under certain conditions.  Establishes a special number plate for motor vehicles to support the Hawaii Cultural Trust.  Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.  (HD1)

 

CAA, JHA, FIN

HB 2584

Status

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC LAND TRUST.

Temporarily increases the total amount of public land trust revenues transferred to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, while reaffirming the State's obligation to the twenty per cent pro rata share pursuant to the Hawaii State Constitution.  Repeals 6/30/2028.

 

JHA, FIN

HB 2433

Status

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

Requires that the Hawaiian version of a law be held binding if the law in question was originally drafted in Hawaiian, or if the law was originally drafted in English and if the law was subsequently amended, codified, recodified, or reenacted in Hawaiian, and meets certain criteria.

 

JHA

HB 1982, HD1

(HSCR30-26)

Status

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

EEP, JHA, FIN

HB 2223, HD1

(HSCR99-26)

Status

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.

Permits the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to conduct a review of the effect of a proposed project on lands under its jurisdiction on historical properties and burial sites, subject to certain requirements.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

WAL, JHA, FIN

HB 2308

Status

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT, 1920, AS AMENDED.

Increases the limit of the State's liability for moneys borrowed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands or loans made to lessees that are guaranteed by the Department from $100,000,000 to $500,000,000.

 

JHA, FIN

HB 2309

Status

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT, 1920.

Amends sections 208 and 209(a) of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, to include nieces and nephews who are at least one-quarter Native Hawaiian as qualifying relatives of lessees for the purposes of lease transfer and lease successorship.

 

JHA, FIN

HB 2400

Status

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands projects eligible for general fund revenues that are generated by increases in transient accommodations tax collections and intended to be expended equally across projects related to natural resources, climate resilience, and destination management.

 

JHA, FIN

HB 2250

Status

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE, ITS OFFICERS, OR ITS EMPLOYEES.

Makes appropriations and approves payments for claims against the State, its officers, and its employees.

 

JHA, FIN

HB 2254

Status

RELATING TO COURT-ORDERED PAYMENTS.

Requires the Judiciary to contract with a collection agency or licensed attorney to collect delinquent court-ordered fees, fines, sanctions, and court costs.  Allows courts to specify a period of time or installments for payment of fines, fees, and restitution, and requires the defendant to show cause if the defendant defaults on the payments.

 

JHA, FIN

HB 2256

Status

RELATING TO TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT.

Updates tobacco enforcement laws to confirm the authority of the Department of Taxation and the Department of the Attorney General to inspect and seize tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices and e-liquids, and clarify that untaxed tobacco products are subject to forfeiture as contraband, without regard to the procedures set forth in chapter 712A, HRS, in the same manner as untaxed cigarettes.

 

JHA, FIN

HB 2289

Status

RELATING TO THE EXPENDITURE CEILING ON THE AUTOMATED VICTIM INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM SPECIAL FUND.

Removes the $600,000 annual expenditure ceiling on the Automated Victim Information and Notification System Special Fund to address rising program costs and growing victim service demands.

 

JHA, FIN

 

 

 

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.  Testimony received after this time will be stamped late and left to the discretion of the chair to consider.  While every effort will be made to incorporate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed, may not be processed.

 

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FOR AMENDED NOTICES:  Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are bolded.

 

For more information, please contact the Committee Clerk at (808) 586-6325.

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. David A. Tarnas

Chair