HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Rep. David A. Tarnas, Chair |
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Rep. Mahina Poepoe, Vice Chair |
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Rep. Della Au Belatti |
Rep. Jackson D. Sayama |
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Rep. Elle Cochran |
Rep. Gregg Takayama |
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Rep. Mark J. Hashem |
Rep. Diamond Garcia |
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Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa |
Rep. Garner M. Shimizu |
NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Thursday, February 26, 2026 |
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TIME: |
2:00 PM |
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PLACE: |
VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Conference Room 325 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
Click here to submit testimony and to testify remotely or in person.
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A G E N D A
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RELATING TO THE MAUNA KEA STEWARDSHIP AND OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY. Clarifies the powers of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority so that it may carry out its intended duties regarding land use on Mauna Kea. Part II: Transfers as a matter of law certain real property interests in the Mauna Kea lands to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. Part III: Requires the University of Hawaii to transfer the various Mauna Kea astronomical observatory conservation district use permits to the astronomical observatories. Part IV: Provides that the existing plans and administrative rules adopted or developed by the University of Hawaii under which Mauna Kea is currently governed remain in effect until plans and administrative rules adopted by the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority take effect. Part V: Clarifies that the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority has state sovereign immunity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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WAL, JHA |
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RELATING TO MAUNA KEA. Authorizes the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority to extend existing leases and subleases for up to an additional ten-year term. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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WAL, JHA |
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RELATING TO THE AHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Amends the process for the hiring of the Executive Director of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee. Specifies that the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources is responsible for the appointment, oversight, and administrative authority over the Executive Director of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee. Requires any formal position, recommendation, or advisory action of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee to be adopted at a duly noticed public meeting at which a quorum is present. Amends the reporting requirements of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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WAL, JHA |
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RELATING TO ISLAND BURIAL COUNCILS. Transfers the appointment authority for Island Burial Council members from the Governor and Senate to the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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WAL, JHA |
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RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS. Amends the membership and responsibilities of the Public Land Trust Working Group established under Act 226, SLH 2022. Requires the Working Group to submit four reports to the Legislature: by 8/1/2027, a first interim report regarding Act 178, SLH 2006, financial reporting and accounting; by 12/1/2027, a second interim report regarding the public land trust inventory; by 6/1/2028, a third interim report that includes a preliminary draft of findings and recommendations regarding Act 178 financial reporting and accounting and the public land trust inventory; and by 10/1/2028, a final report that includes proposed legislation. Authorizes the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to provide administrative support to the Working Group in coordination with a third-party consultant. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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WAL, JHA |
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RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE TRAFFIC CODE. Removes references to countdown timers as it relates to pedestrian-control signals, including the requirement that pedestrians must begin crossing a roadway before a countdown timer begins. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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TRN, JHA |
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RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS. Establishes that fines for pedestrian violations under chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall not exceed an unspecified amount. Requires state and county agencies to revise applicable schedules of fines, rules, and procedures to comply with the monetary limit. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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TRN, JHA |
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RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. Establishes safe riding behaviors for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of high-speed electric devices in certain locations. Establishes labeling and signage requirements for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of a moped or electric motorcycle in certain locations. Amends the definition of "bicycle" for purposes of county vehicular taxes. Defines "electric bicycle" in place of "low-speed electric bicycle". Authorizes the seizure of non-road-legal, nonconforming electric bicycles and high-speed electric devices. Defines "electric micro-mobility device" and requires the same regulations as electric foot scooters. Prohibits a person under the age of sixteen from operating a class 2 or class 3 electric bicycle without direct supervision. Authorizes a person to ride an electric bicycle on a sidewalk under certain circumstances. Prohibits a person from operating a bicycle or electric foot scooter under the age of eighteen without a helmet. Repeals the requirement that moped drivers use bicycle lanes. Substitutes the term "motor scooter" with the term "motor-driven cycle". Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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TRN, JHA |
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RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to designate airport special district zones within airports statewide. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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TRN, JHA |
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RELATING TO HOUSING. Requires developers developing a housing project under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to assist certain tenants who are subject to displacement or eviction by the proposed project by: granting those tenants the right of first offer of a comparable unit in the housing project and providing replacement housing payments; providing information, either directly or through a contracted service, on how to obtain assistance and exercise the right of first offer; and establishing procedures to track and maintain communication with those tenants. Establishes consequences for a developer's noncompliance. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HSG, CPC, JHA |
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RELATING TO HOUSING. Deems a county inclusionary mandate as a form of development exaction and treats the mandate as a housing affordability impact fee, with certain exemptions. Prohibits a county from adopting, amending, or enforcing an inclusionary mandate or inclusionary mandates for residential or mixed-use development, under certain circumstances. Establishes additional requirements for a needs assessment study for a county-imposed inclusionary mandate. Establishes a criterion that allows luxury residential projects or projects that receive certain discretionary value increases to be subject to inclusionary mandates. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HSG, WAL, JHA |
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RELATING TO HOUSING. Includes housing projects for individuals with disabilities and individuals with access and functional needs as eligible projects to apply for expedited permits. Repeals 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HSG/WAL, JHA |
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RELATING TO LAND USE DECISION-MAKING. Provides the authority for counties to amend district boundaries involving land areas of greater than fifteen but no more than twenty-five acres for purposes of residential housing, agricultural workforce housing, long-term rental, or workforce fee simple ownership. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HSG/WAL, JHA |
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RELATING TO HOUSING. Part I: Authorizes the construction and occupation of self-contained relocatable housing units, with certain restrictions. Part II: Specifies that a manufactured home is considered real property, requiring its transfer, conveyance, and mortgage to follow the same recording and enforcement requirements as other real property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
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HSG/WAL, TRN, JHA |
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RELATING TO TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. Requires the development of transit-supportive densities to be allowed in any county-designated transit-oriented development area. Prohibits the counties from enacting an ordinance, rule, regulation, development standard, zoning provision, or other land use control that restricts the development of transit-supportive densities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HSG, WAL, JHA |
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RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. Beginning 7/1/2027, prohibits counties from imposing minimum parking mandates for certain developments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
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HSG, WAL, JHA |
DECISION MAKING
The following measure(s) were previously heard on February 19, 2026. No public testimony will be accepted.
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RELATING TO ELECTIONS. Establishes a process by which any political party continuously listed on the general election ballot for twenty or more years shall be deemed continuously qualified for ballot placement.
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JHA |
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RELATING TO HABITUAL VIOLENT CRIME. Amend Act 213, SLH 2024, by repealing its sunset date and requiring the Criminal Justice Research Institute to submit a one-time report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2031. Requires the Attorney General, in consultation with Criminal Justice Research Institute, to submit ongoing annual reports to the Legislature.
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JHA |
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.
Testimony submitted will be placed on the legislative website. This public posting of testimony on the website should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.
The chair may institute a per-testifier time limit.
Committees meeting in the morning must adjourn prior to the day's Floor Session. Therefore, due to time constraints, not all testifiers may be provided an opportunity to offer verbal comments. However, written submissions will be considered by the committee.
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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) 586-8510.
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________________________________________ Rep. David A. Tarnas Chair |
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