# Hawaii HB 1239: RELATING TO INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL.

Hawaii HB 1239, RELATING TO INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Mahina Poepoe (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-12-08 (Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1239-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 1239
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-22
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Mahina Poepoe (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 13
- Subjects: Hawaiian Homes Commission, Independent Legal Counsel, Attorney General, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (56 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Authorizes the Hawaiian Homes Commission to retain independent legal counsel, with any legal fees owed to be paid by the State, and also use the services of the Attorney General as needed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mahina Poepoe (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Terez Amato (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Della Au Belatti (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Elle Cochran (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Luke A. Evslin (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tina Nakada Grandinetti (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Daniel Holt (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Darius K. Kila (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: LAMOSAO
- Cosponsor: Lisa Marten (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tyson K. Miyake (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kanani Souza (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-10 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN... | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 9 | 0 |   |

## Actions (8)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-02-10: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 284) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-02-10: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran, Kila, Ward excused (4). (House)
- 2025-01-31: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Todd. (House)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 4 (House)
- 2025-01-27: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Friday, 01-31-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-22: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1239_HD1_.pdf)
- HB1239_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1239_HD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1239_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1239_.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1239_HD1_.pdf)
- [HB1239_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1239_HD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1239_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1239_.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2964-2026)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1239-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).