# Hawaii SB 2116: RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

Hawaii SB 2116, RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Brandon J.C. Elefante (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-25 (Re-Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2116-2026
- 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 2116
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-02-25, Re-Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM.
- Sponsor: Brandon J.C. Elefante (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Subjects: State and County, Departments, Boards, Commissions, Agencies, Public Employees, Confidential Complaint Process, Reports, Rules, Appropriation, LBT, JDC/WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (5 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the Attorney General to establish a confidential process for persons to anonymously file complaints against public employees. Requires the Attorney General to review and forward the complaints to the department, board, commission, or agency deemed appropriate by the Attorney General. Requires the departments, boards, commissions, and agencies to process the complaint pursuant to their standard complaint-processing procedures and report the disposition to the Attorney General. Authorizes the Attorney General to adopt rules. Requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Brandon J.C. Elefante (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Carol Fukunaga (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Les Ihara Jr. (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-01-28 | Senate | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |

## Actions (11)

- 2026-02-25: Re-Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: The committee on JDC deferred the measure. (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-24-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2114) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Re-Referred to LBT, JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Ihara, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2116_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2116_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2116_.PDF)
- SB2116_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2116_SD1_.HTM)

## 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)
- SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2116_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2116_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2116_.PDF)
- [SB2116_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2116_SD1_.HTM)

## 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)
- [SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2031-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2116-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).