# Hawaii SB 1620: RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING.

Hawaii SB 1620, RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic); status passed senate, last action 2025-03-06 (Re-referred to CPC, referral sheet 19) (as of 2026-10-28).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1620-2025
- 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 1620
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING.
- Status: passed senate
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-23
- Last action: 2025-03-06, Re-referred to CPC, referral sheet 19
- Sponsor: Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Subjects: Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Natural Hair Braiding, License, Exemption, CPC
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Exempts natural hair braiders from licensing requirements under certain conditions.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Lynn DeCoite (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Michelle N. Kidani (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angus L.K. McKelvey (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (13)

- 2025-03-06: Re-referred to CPC, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Referred to HLT, CPC, referral sheet 18 (House)
- 2025-02-28: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-02-27: Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 36). (House)
- 2025-02-19: Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 702) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: One Day Notice 02-27-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Richards, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 9:50AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to CPN. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1620_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1620_.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
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1620_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1620_.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-SB1620-2025 (as of 2026-10-28).