# Hawaii SB 1609: RELATING TO CHILD CARE.

Hawaii SB 1609, RELATING TO CHILD CARE., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by SAN BUENAVENTURA; status passed senate, last action 2025-03-13 (Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1213) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.) (as of 2026-10-28).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1609-2025
- As of: 2026-10-28
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 1609
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO CHILD CARE.
- Status: passed senate
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-23
- Last action: 2025-03-13, Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1213) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Sponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: DHS, Early Learning Services Contracts Program, Child Care Providers, Infant and Toddler Child Care Centers, Group Child Care Centers, HSH, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and implement an Early Learning Services Contracts Program to make available a designated number of seats at licensed infant and toddler child care centers and group child care centers that meet certain criteria. Requires the Department of Human Services to submit reports to the Legislature. Sunsets the pilot program on 6/30/2028. Effective 12/31/2050. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA

## Actions (20)

- 2025-03-13: Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1213) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-03-13: 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, Holt, Ward, Woodson excused (4). (House)
- 2025-03-11: The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 03-11-25 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-04: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-04: Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 18 (House)
- 2025-02-28: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 60) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2025-02-27: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 789) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: One Day Notice 02-28-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 595) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: 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, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: The committee(s) on HHS deferred the measure until 02-12-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:20PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to HHS, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1609_HD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1609_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1609_.PDF)
- SB1609_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1609_HD1_.HTM)
- SB1609_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1609_SD1_.HTM)

## 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/SB1609_HD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1609_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1609_.PDF)
- [SB1609_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1609_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB1609_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1609_SD1_.HTM)

## 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)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1609-2025 (as of 2026-10-28).