# Hawaii SB 1556: RELATING TO TRUSTED PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawaii SB 1556, RELATING TO TRUSTED PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Les Ihara Jr. (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-SB1556-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 1556
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO TRUSTED PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-22
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Les Ihara Jr. (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: OIP, Public Agency Meetings, Sunshine Law, Executive Meetings, Trusted Public Representatives, Program, Rules, Report, Appropriations, GVO, WAM/JDC
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes a Trusted Public Representative Program within the Office of Information Practices under which the Office assigns a volunteer Trusted Public Representative trained in the requirements of the Sunshine Law and observes public agency meetings closed to the public. Allows the Office of Information Practices to conduct background checks of current and prospective Trusted Public Representatives. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Les Ihara Jr. (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (4)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-01-27: Referred to GVO, WAM/JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1556_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1556_.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
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1556_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1556_.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-SB1556-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).