# Hawaii HB 1697: RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING.

Hawaii HB 1697, RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Linda Ichiyama (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-12 (Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 268).); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1697-2026
- 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 1697
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-20
- Last action: 2026-03-12, Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 268).
- Sponsor: Linda Ichiyama (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Natural Hair Braiding, Exemption from Licensure, Registration, CPN
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 3 (107 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires natural hair braiders to be registered, rather than licensed, under the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. By 11/1/2026, requires the Board to adopt rules prescribing the approved courses or programs on sanitation, health, and safety. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Linda Ichiyama (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 48 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | House | The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-03-12: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 268). (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Referred to CPN. (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 896-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (House)
- 2026-03-05: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). (House)
- 2026-03-04: The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick. (House)
- 2026-03-02: Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 03-04-26 2:00PM in conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-02-24: The committee(s) on CPC recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. (House)
- 2026-02-20: Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 02-24-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-01-26: Referred to CPC, referral sheet 1 (House)
- 2026-01-21: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2026-01-20: Prefiled. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1697_HD1_.pdf)
- HB1697_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1697_HD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1697_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1697_.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/HB1697_HD1_.pdf)
- [HB1697_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1697_HD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1697_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1697_.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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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1697-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).