KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair |
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Senator Sharon Y. Moriwaki, Vice Chair |
NOTICE OF DECISION MAKING
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DATE: |
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 |
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TIME: |
10:56 AM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 211 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
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TIMESLOT: |
WAM |
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 PUBLIC PROCUREMENT. Requires purchasing agencies to apply a local preference in evaluating bids or proposals from qualified Hawaii bidders or offerors who submit a timely preference certification. Establishes criteria for a bid or proposal to qualify for a local preference. Establishes requirements for the qualification and certification of Hawaii bidders and offerors. Authorizes the false or misleading actions for the obtaining or retaining of a Hawaii bidder or offeror preference to constitute cause for debarment. Allows the Procurement Policy Board to adopt rules. Effective 7/1/2525. (SD1)
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GVO, WAM |
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RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS. Requires the Department of Human Services to submit a plan for the consolidation of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions and Homeless Programs Office under a single centralized entity. Requires reports to the Legislature by the consolidated entity. Appropriates moneys. Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the Kauhale Initiative and related capital improvement projects.
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO BUDGET-RELATED REPORTS. Requires the Governor to ensure that the Governor's program memoranda and variance reports accurately reflect the current responsibilities of certain state programs, address the current and future needs of the State, and align with budget-related submittals.
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GVO, WAM |
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RELATING TO PROCUREMENT. Prohibits a procurement officer from disclosing a competing offeror's proposal or evaluation score, except the summary of scores, to a non-selected offeror until after any protest is resolved and the contract is executed. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)
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GVO, WAM |
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RELATING TO INSURANCE. Requires homeowners insurance policies to permit an insured who sustains a total loss to apply additional living expenses benefits toward the lease of a housing unit to serve as the insured's temporary primary residence. Requires insurers to pay an advance of at least 4 months of additional living expenses benefits after a total loss to an insured's primary dwelling caused by a covered peril that occurred pursuant to a state of emergency. Requires homeowners insurance policies to provide additional living expenses benefits for a minimum of 36 months in the event of a total loss that occurred during a state of emergency. Provides for extensions of additional living expenses benefits under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, WAM |
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RELATING TO CULTURE AND ARTS. Establishes the Hawaii Leadership Awards Program to honor individuals who have made considerable and outstanding contributions to the State and serve as inspirations to others. (SD1)
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WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. Requires each county, in collaboration with the Hawaii Community Development Authority to establish a Summer Streets Pilot Program that closes vehicular traffic and repurposes roads for pedestrian and cyclist use, outdoor events, and other community-driven activities. Requires each county to submit an initial proposal to the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROCUREMENT. Exempts from the Hawaii Public Procurement Code procurements by the Department of Education of any amount of local edible produce and packaged food products that do not cost more than 5% of non-local alternatives. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY. Amends the renewable energy technologies income tax credit by beginning 12/31/26, prohibiting individually or jointly filing taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $250,000 or greater from claiming a credit for certain solar energy systems installed and placed in service on a single-family residential property, with certain exemptions; removing certain cap amounts for solar energy systems; and increasing the adjusted gross income requirements for an individual taxpayer to elect to have any excess credits refunded. Effective 4/19/2042. (SD1)
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EIG, WAM |
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RELATING TO OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION. Implements certain recommendations of the SPEED Task Force. Establishes and appropriates funds for a working group within the State Building Code Council to develop proposals for an off-site construction program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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PSM, WAM |
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RELATING TO FAMILY RESILIENCE PILOT PROGRAM. Establishes a one-year Family Resilience Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience. Appropriates funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding. Sunsets the pilot program 6/30/2027.
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO BONDS. Conforms state law concerning county debt limits to permit counties to exclude housing infrastructure growth bonds from the debt limit of the counties, if a constitutional amendment authorizing the use of housing infrastructure growth bonds and excluding housing infrastructure growth bonds from determinations of the counties' funded debt is ratified. (SD1)
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EIG, WAM |
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RELATING TO PROCUREMENT. Authorizes governmental bodies and public employees to procure project management services through non-governmental third-party contracts under certain conditions. Clarifies the inherently governmental and nondelegable responsibility of state agencies, which must retain ultimate authority, accountability, and decision-making over contract performance. Requires every budget transfer to receive prior written certification from an appropriate fiscal officer as to the effect the budget transfer will have on the total project budget or the total contract budget. Appropriates funds to establish a Special Project Branch within the Public Works Division of the Department of Accounting and General Services, including funds for three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) permanent positions, to provide specialized expertise and staff resources that support the Division's implementation of certain complex, high-profile capital improvement program projects using innovative, non-traditional delivery methods. Effective 7/1/2525. (SD1)
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GVO, WAM |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING. Requires state agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and Agribusiness Development Corporation, that administer agricultural leases, licenses, development programs, or procurement involving agricultural products to award points or preferences to agricultural projects incorporating agricultural workforce housing. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AEN/GVO, WAM |
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RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS. Establishes a Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii. Appropriates funds. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE MILITARY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE. Appropriates funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism through the Military and Community Relations Office to strengthen intergovernmental coordination for military and defense activities. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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PSM, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. Requires the Department of Human Services to adjust the minimum certification periods for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits households, participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project, and report to the Legislature. Effective 1/30/2050. Implementation effective 7/1/2028. (SD1)
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO CLIMATE PLANNING. Amends the powers and duties of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Establishes a Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission Coordinator position to lead the Commission. Requires annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and counties. Establishes six full-time equivalent positions within the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA/AEN, WAM |
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RELATING TO CONSERVATION. Establishes the Hawaii Conservation Sanctuary Corporation to protect and expand the populations of endangered species and other wildlife, native or nonnative, by establishing sanctuaries in the State. Establishes powers and duties of the Corporation. Authorizes the Corporation to partner or otherwise collaborate with the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Establishes rules for the Corporation's Board of Governors, Executive Director, and business practices. Requires an annual report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Legislature, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA/AEN, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND STAFF SALARIES. Authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to establish the salary for an assistant administrator of the Trust Fund. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
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LBT, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Establishes the Board of Education Internal Audit Office to conduct program and fiscal evaluations of the Department of Education's key strategic initiatives to identify program improvements and provide other benefits and review external audits. Requires the Board of Education to establish a standing committee with a scope that includes audit-related responsibilities. Prohibits the Department of Education from expending FY 2026-2027 appropriated funds for certain auditor, evaluation specialist, and related positions and expenses. Appropriates funds. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. Requires the Hawaii Community Development Authority, when planning and developing housing, to plan for complete communities that include various aspects supporting quality of life. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA/HOU, WAM |
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 WAMcommittee@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)586-6800.
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_____________________________________ Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz Chair |
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