# Hawaii SB 1620: RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING.

Hawaii SB 1620, RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Donna Mercado Kim (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-SB1620-2026
- 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 1620
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-23
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Subjects: Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Natural Hair Braiding, License, Exemption, CPC
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (30 yes, 0 no in all)
- 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

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-27 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-07 | Senate | The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |

## Actions (14)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 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/session2026/bills/SB1620_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1620_.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/SB1620_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1620_.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)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1620-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).