# Hawaii SB 2137: RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Hawaii SB 2137, RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Brandon J.C. Elefante (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-20 (Reported from LBT/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2545) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2137-2026
- 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 2137
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-02-20, Reported from LBT/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2545) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Sponsor: Brandon J.C. Elefante (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Subjects: DHRD, Civil Service Positions, State Departments, Divisions, and Agencies, Recruitment and Hiring, Rules, LBT/GVO, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (8 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Beginning 7/1/2027, authorizes state departments, divisions, and agencies to elect to assume hiring and recruitment functions from the Department of Human Resources Development for vacant civil service positions within that department, division, or agency under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to adopt rules. Repeals existing law authorizing state departments, divisions, and agencies to conduct minimum qualification review of applicants for their vacant civil service positions. 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: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angus L.K. McKelvey (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (11)

- 2026-02-20: Reported from LBT/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2545) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Hashimoto, Moriwaki, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard. (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara. (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Public notice requirement waived pursuant to Senate Rule 21. (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: The committee(s) on LBT/GVO has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-11-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-08: The committee(s) on LBT/GVO deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 3:00PM; CR 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: The committee(s) on LBT/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to LBT/GVO, 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/SB2137_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2137_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2137_.PDF)
- SB2137_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2137_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2137_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2137_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2137_.PDF)
- [SB2137_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2137_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [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 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2031-2026)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2137-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).