# Hawaii HB 1657: RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Hawaii HB 1657, RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Jackson D. Sayama (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-01-26 (Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 1) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1657-2026
- 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 1657
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-20
- Last action: 2026-01-26, Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 1
- Sponsor: Jackson D. Sayama (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: DHRD, Civil Service Positions, State Departments, Divisions, and Agencies, Recruitment and Hiring, Rules, LAB, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Authorizes state departments, divisions, and agencies to elect to assume hiring and recruitment functions from the Department of Human Resources Development for vacant civil service positions within that department, division, or agency under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to adopt rules. Repeals existing law authorizing state departments, divisions, and agencies to conduct minimum qualification review of applicants for their vacant civil service positions.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jackson D. Sayama (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Greggor Ilagan (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: Ikaika Olds (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gregg Takayama (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic), House

## Actions (3)

- 2026-01-26: Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 1 (House)
- 2026-01-21: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2026-01-20: Prefiled. (House)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1657_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1657_.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
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1657_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1657_.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-HB1657-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).