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. Gregg Takayama

Rep. Mark J. Hashem

Rep. Elle Cochran

Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa

Rep. Diamond Garcia

Rep. Jackson D. Sayama

Rep. Garner M. Shimizu

 

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Thursday, April 2, 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

 

SB 2169, SD1, HD1

(HSCR1397-26)

Status

RELATING TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Authorizes the Agribusiness Development Corporation to acquire by condemnation any real property or interest in real property, except public lands, 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 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

AGR, JHA

SB 2818, SD2, HD1

(HSCR1528-26)

Status

RELATING TO BOATING.

Clarifies the penalties for violations of boating and ocean recreation laws pursuant to chapter 200, HRS.  Clarifies the violations that constitute unauthorized conduct.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

WAL, JHA

SB 2972, SD1, HD1

(HSCR1344-26)

Status

RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources to begin the Holomua Marine Initiative process no later than 7/1/2026 to address coral reef restoration on Oahu.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

WAL, JHA

SB 2398, SD2, HD1

(HSCR1522-26)

Status

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UTILITIES.

Requires each county board of water supply to publicly disclose through their website service connection availability for residential permitting and construction.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

HSG, WAL, JHA

SB 2046, SD2, HD1

(HSCR1521-26)

Status

RELATING TO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.

Requires an owner or operator of an underground storage tank or tank system with a confirmed release to meet certain standards for the restoration of the environment.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

EEP, WAL, JHA

SB 3136

(HSCR1380-26)

Status

RELATING TO LEAD MATERIALS IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

Amends prohibitions on the use of lead materials in drinking water distribution to align with the Safe Drinking Water Act and related Code of Federal Regulations.

 

EEP, JHA

SB 3154, SD2, HD1

(HSCR1437-26)

Status

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to assume responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for highway projects, as well as railroad, public transportation, or multimodal projects within the State, allowing streamlined environmental reviews.  Provides a limited waiver of sovereign immunity to comply with federal requirements.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

TRN, EEP, JHA

SB 2203, SD2

(SSCR2160)

Status

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Establishes the offense of use of a mask or facial covering by a law enforcement officer.  Effective 3/22/2075.  (SD2)

 

JHA

SB 3262, SD1

(HSCR1383-26)

Status

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires that the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board submit three nominees for its Executive Director to the Board of Education.  Requires the Board of Education to appoint an Executive Director from the nominees on the list, subject to advice and consent of the Senate.  Effective 3/22/2075.  (SD1)

 

EDN, JHA

SB 3118, SD1, HD2

(HSCR1440-26)

Status

RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY CHILDREN.

Updates references to the United States Code in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.  (HD2)

 

EDN, PBS, JHA

SB 3250, SD1, HD1

(HSCR1355-26)

Status

RELATING TO LIBERTY AND JUSTICE DAY.

Designates March 5 of every year as Liberty and Justice Day.  Requires all flags flown on state lands to be flown at half-staff on Liberty and Justice Day.  (HD1)

 

CAA, 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.

 

Please refrain from profanity or uncivil behavior.  Violations may result in ejection from the hearing without the ability to rejoin.

 

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For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov.

 

The livestream and/or cable TV broadcast of this meeting will include closed captioning.  If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation (including oral, written, or ASL interpretive services) or are unable to submit testimony via the website due to a disability, please contact the committee clerk at (808) 586-6325. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.

 

Click here for a complete list of House Guidelines for remote testimony.

 

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