# Hawaii HB 2398: RELATING TO LIBRARIES.

Hawaii HB 2398, RELATING TO LIBRARIES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Justin H. Woodson (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-30 (Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3265) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2398-2026
- 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 2398
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO LIBRARIES.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-27
- Last action: 2026-03-30, Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3265) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Sponsor: Justin H. Woodson (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 15
- Subjects: DOE, BOE, Hawaii State Public Library System, State Librarian, Public Library System Facilities, Land Use, EDU, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (126 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Clarifies that the Board of Education, through the State Librarian, has exclusive authority over the development, use, support, and improvement and maintenance of public library system facilities. Allows the Board of Education to authorize the State Librarian to exercise exclusive control of certain land for development or expansion purposes, subject to legislative appropriation. Requires the Department of Education to expeditiously cooperate with the State Librarian and Hawaii State Public Library System to effectuate any project authorized by the Board of Education on certain lands. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Justin H. Woodson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Terez Amato (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Cory M. Chun (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Andrew Takuya Garrett (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Darius K. Kila (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Matthias Kusch (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nicole E. Lowen (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lisa Marten (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tyson K. Miyake (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mahina Poepoe (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: REYES ODA
- Cosponsor: Gregg Takayama (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jenna Takenouchi (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Adrian K. Tam (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-20 | Senate | The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 48 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 16 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-19 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN... | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | House | The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 9 | 0 |   |

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2398_SD1_.pdf)
- HB2398_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2398_HD1_.HTM)
- HB2398_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2398_SD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2398_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2398_.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2398_SD1_.pdf)
- [HB2398_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2398_HD1_.HTM)
- [HB2398_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2398_SD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2398_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2398_.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [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 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2398-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).