# Hawaii HB 686: RELATING TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH BOARDS.

Hawaii HB 686, RELATING TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH BOARDS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) House bill sponsored by Jeanne Kapela (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-02-14 (Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 744) 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-HB686-2025
- 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 686
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH BOARDS.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-02-14, Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 744) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Sponsor: Jeanne Kapela (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: Neighborhood Boards, Community Outreach Boards, Sunshine Law, Public Meetings, Permitted Interactions, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Defines community outreach board to mean a board established to serve in a community advisory capacity under a county department. Includes community outreach boards in existing provisions of the Sunshine Law relating to neighborhood boards. Authorizes neighborhood board and community outreach board members to attend meetings or presentations related to official board business statewide. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jeanne Kapela (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kirstin Kahaloa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House

## Actions (7)

- 2025-02-14: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 744) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-02-14: 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, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4). (House)
- 2025-02-13: 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)
- 2025-02-10: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-13-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 2 (House)
- 2025-01-17: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB686_HD1_.pdf)
- HB686_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB686_HD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB686_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB686_.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/HB686_HD1_.pdf)
- [HB686_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB686_HD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB686_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB686_.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-HB686-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).