HawaiiHB 24432025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)House

RELATING TO DISASTER SERVICES.

Sponsored By: Terez Amato (Democratic)

Passed

Summary

Integrates the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into emergency planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. Establishes a Disability Integration Specialist position, to be located in the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, who shall provide programming support for disability community projects that promote accessibility, inclusion, and equity in disaster management. Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop and implement a statewide public education and communications program to promote household emergency preparedness consistent with the Agency's 14-day essential supplies recommendation. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide an American Sign Language interpreter during each official announcement broadcast via television or the Internet during a state of emergency. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the American Sign Language interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are visible during the broadcast. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide a standardized pool feed that includes the American Sign Language interpreter in a picture‑in‑picture window not less than one quarter the size of the primary video and not blocked or covered by captions, graphics, or other on-screen tax. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Disaster ServicesHIEMAEmergency PreparednessEmergency CommunicationsLimited English ProficiencyLanguage AccessOfficial AnnouncementsAmerican Sign LanguageSign Language InterpreterProgramReportsPositionAppropriationsPSM/HHS, WAM

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Terez Amato

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Della Au Belatti

    Democratic • House

  • Elle Cochran

    Democratic • House

  • Ikaika Hussey

    Democratic • House

  • Greggor Ilagan

    Democratic • House

  • Kim Coco Iwamoto

    Democratic • House

  • Kirstin Kahaloa

    Democratic • House

  • Jeanne Kapela

    Democratic • House

  • Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee Loy

    Democratic • House

  • Darius K. Kila

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Marten

    Democratic • House

  • Tyson K. Miyake

    Democratic • House

  • Dee Morikawa

    Democratic • House

  • Amy A. Perruso

    Democratic • House

  • Mahina Poepoe

    Democratic • House

  • Kanani Souza

    Republican • House

  • Gregg Takayama

    Democratic • House

  • Adrian K. Tam

    Democratic • House

  • David A. Tarnas

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 147 • No: 0

Senate vote 4/10/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 25 • No: 0

Senate vote 4/6/2026

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The...

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/23/2026

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/23/2026

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 5 • No: 0

House vote 3/5/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote 2/11/2026

Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN...

Yes: 50 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. House Conferees Appointed: Belatti, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Amato, Templo, Shimizu.

    4/23/2026House
  2. Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 817).

    4/23/2026Senate
  3. Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 2:00PM in conference room 016.

    4/23/2026House
  4. Senate Conferees Appointed: Fukunaga Chair; McKelvey, Lee, C. Co-Chairs; Inouye.

    4/21/2026Senate
  5. Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 717).

    4/21/2026House
  6. Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).

    4/16/2026Senate
  7. House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

    4/14/2026House
  8. Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

    4/10/2026Senate
  9. Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 559) in amended form (SD 1).

    4/10/2026House
  10. Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3628) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.

    4/9/2026Senate
  11. One Day Notice 04-10-26.

    4/9/2026Senate
  12. The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..

    4/6/2026Senate
  13. The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

    4/1/2026Senate
  14. Reported from PSM/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3292) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

    3/30/2026Senate
  15. The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

    3/30/2026Senate
  16. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

    3/30/2026Senate
  17. The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

    3/23/2026Senate
  18. The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto, Inouye, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

    3/23/2026Senate
  19. The committee(s) on PSM/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 2:45PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

    3/17/2026Senate
  20. Referred to PSM/HHS, WAM.

    3/10/2026Senate
  21. Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 108).

    3/6/2026Senate
  22. Passed First Reading.

    3/6/2026Senate
  23. Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 834-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.

    3/5/2026House
  24. Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

    3/5/2026House
  25. The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M..

    2/27/2026House

Bill Text

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