# Hawaii SB 2121: RELATING TO EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Hawaii SB 2121, RELATING TO EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Brandon J.C. Elefante (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-18 (The committee on PSM deferred the measure.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2121-2026
- 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 2121
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-02-18, The committee on PSM deferred the measure.
- Sponsor: Brandon J.C. Elefante (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Subjects: Emergency, Official Announcements, Broadcast Media, American Sign Language, Sign Language Interpreter, PSM, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide an American Sign Language interpreter during each official announcement broadcast via television or the Internet during a state of emergency. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the American Sign Language interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are visible during the broadcast. Requires a news media outlet to display the American Sign Language interpreter in a picture-in-picture window during broadcasts of official emergency announcements.

## 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: Carol Fukunaga (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA

## Actions (6)

- 2026-02-18: The committee on PSM deferred the measure. (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Re-Referred to PSM, WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to PSM/HHS, WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2121_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2121_.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)
- SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2121_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2121_.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)
- [SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2031-2026)
- [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-SB2121-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).