# Hawaii HB 166: RELATING TO THE DEFENSE OF STATE EMPLOYEES.

Hawaii HB 166, RELATING TO THE DEFENSE OF STATE EMPLOYEES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) House bill sponsored by Jackson D. Sayama (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-02-13 (Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 597) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB166-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 166
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO THE DEFENSE OF STATE EMPLOYEES.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-14
- Last action: 2025-02-13, Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 597) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Sponsor: Jackson D. Sayama (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: State Employees, Professionally Licensed, Certified, Duty to Defend, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the State to defend professionally licensed or certified state employees from civil actions or proceedings, under certain circumstances. Clarifies that the employee may employ their own attorney at the employee's own expense. Establishes a process for the Attorney General to transfer or withdraw representation if the Attorney General declines to defend the employee. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jackson D. Sayama (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mike Lee (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: M.

## Actions (7)

- 2025-02-13: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 597) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-02-13: 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, Kitagawa, Ward excused (3). (House)
- 2025-02-05: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House)
- 2025-01-31: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-05-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1 (House)
- 2025-01-16: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-14: Prefiled. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB166_HD1_.pdf)
- HB166_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB166_HD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB166_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB166_.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB166_HD1_.pdf)
- [HB166_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB166_HD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB166_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB166_.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [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-HB166-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).