# Hawaii HB 1278: RELATING TO HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVAL.

Hawaii HB 1278, RELATING TO HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVAL., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Jenna Takenouchi (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-02 (Re-Referred to WLA, WAM.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1278-2026
- 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 1278
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVAL.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-22
- Last action: 2026-02-02, Re-Referred to WLA, WAM.
- Sponsor: Jenna Takenouchi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 15
- Subjects: Hazardous Trees, Assessment, Removal, Appropriation, WLA, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (121 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Appropriates funds for the assessment and removal of hazardous trees on state lands across Hawaii. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jenna Takenouchi (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Luke A. Evslin (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Andrew Takuya Garrett (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kirstin Kahaloa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY
- Cosponsor: Lisa Kitagawa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Matthias Kusch (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mike Lee (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: M.
- Cosponsor: Lisa Marten (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Scot Z. Matayoshi (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tyson K. Miyake (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dee Morikawa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mahina Poepoe (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Chris Todd (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-04 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-24 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-11 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN... | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-06 | House | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 9 | 0 |   |

## Actions (21)

- 2026-02-02: Re-Referred to WLA, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-03-17: The committee(s) on WTL deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 03-19-25 1:45PM; CR 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: The committee on WTL deferred the measure. (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: The committee(s) on WTL will hold a public decision making on 03-19-25 1:45PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-03-10: The committee(s) on WTL has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 348). (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to WTL, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1157) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-02-28: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-04-25. (House)
- 2025-02-24: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Ward. (House)
- 2025-02-21: Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 02-24-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-02-11: Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 356) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-02-11: 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) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-02-06: The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Iwamoto, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama. (House)
- 2025-02-04: Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 02-06-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 4 (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/HB1278_HD2_.pdf)
- HB1278_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1278_HD1_.HTM)
- HB1278_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1278_HD2_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1278_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1278_.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/HB1278_HD2_.pdf)
- [HB1278_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1278_HD1_.HTM)
- [HB1278_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1278_HD2_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1278_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1278_.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)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1278-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).