# Hawaii HB 2600: RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

Hawaii HB 2600, RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by David A. Tarnas (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-19 (Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 583-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2600-2026
- 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 2600
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-02-19, Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 583-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Sponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Office of the Public Defender, Position, Appropriation, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (55 yes, 3 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Appropriates funds to the Office of the Public Defender for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Deputy Public Defender III position. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-19 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN... | pass | 48 | 2 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 7 | 1 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2026-02-19: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 583-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2026-02-19: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Alcos voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and none excused (0). (House)
- 2026-02-13: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Takayama. (House)
- 2026-02-11: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Friday, 02-13-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-02-02: Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 6 (House)
- 2026-01-28: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2600_HD1_.pdf)
- HB2600_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2600_HD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2600_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2600_.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/HB2600_HD1_.pdf)
- [HB2600_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2600_HD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2600_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2600_.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)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2600-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).