# Hawaii HB 971: RELATING TO STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

Hawaii HB 971, RELATING TO STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Adrian K. Tam (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-12-08 (Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB971-2026
- 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 971
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-21
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Adrian K. Tam (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Subjects: Governor, DAGS, Office of the State Architect, State Architect, State Construction Projects, Design Approvals, Design Review Special Fund, County Building Permit, Inspection, and Certificate of Occupancy Requirements, Exemptions, Report, Appropriations, LAB, HSG, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes the Office of the State Architect within the Department of Accounting and General Services to be headed by the State Architect. Authorizes the State Architect to organize, manage, and oversee the design review of all state construction projects and issue design approvals. Establishes the Design Review Special Fund. Requires the State Architect to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature. Authorizes DAGS to provide centralized design review services for state construction projects and issue design approvals through the State Architect. Exempts state construction projects from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements, subject to certain conditions. Makes appropriations.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Adrian K. Tam (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Terez Amato (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Matthias Kusch (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Darius K. Kila (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lisa Marten (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mahina Poepoe (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kanani Souza (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Chris Todd (Democratic), House

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB971_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB971_.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
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB971_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB971_.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)
- [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-HB971-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).