HawaiiSB 21512025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)Senate

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Sponsored By: Karl Rhoads (Democratic)

Passed

Summary

Clarifies state and local authority during a state or local state of emergency. Clarifies and limits the suspension of laws and access to records during an emergency. Defines "catastrophic harm" and "severe weather warning". Amends the definitions of "disaster" and "emergency" under emergency management laws. Allows the Legislature to terminate a state of emergency and county councils to terminate a local state of emergency. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Emergency ManagementState of EmergencyLocal State of EmergencyPBS, JHA

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Karl Rhoads

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Stanley Chang

    Democratic • Senate

  • Troy N. Hashimoto

    Democratic • Senate

  • Michelle N. Kidani

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sharon Y. Moriwaki

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 134 • No: 4

House vote 4/14/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote 3/30/2026

Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA...

Yes: 46 • No: 1

House vote 3/27/2026

The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...

Yes: 6 • No: 1

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 24 • No: 1

Senate vote 3/5/2026

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 4 • No: 1

Senate vote 1/28/2026

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 4 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 632).

    4/16/2026Senate
  2. Senate disagrees with House amendments.

    4/16/2026Senate
  3. Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).

    4/16/2026House
  4. Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Souza voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

    4/14/2026House
  5. Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2127-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.

    4/10/2026House
  6. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.

    4/10/2026House
  7. The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Cochran.

    4/8/2026House
  8. Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 04-08-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

    4/6/2026House
  9. Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1563-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

    3/30/2026House
  10. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Souza voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).

    3/30/2026House
  11. The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Ichiyama, Woodson; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Souza; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa, Poepoe.

    3/27/2026House
  12. The committee(s) on PBS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-27-26 11:00AM.

    3/25/2026House
  13. Bill scheduled for decision making on Friday, 03-27-26 11:00AM in conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

    3/25/2026House
  14. The committee(s) on PBS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-25-26 11:00AM.

    3/20/2026House
  15. Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 03-25-26 11:00AM in conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

    3/20/2026House
  16. Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 03-20-26 10:30AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

    3/18/2026House
  17. Pass First Reading

    3/12/2026House
  18. Referred to PBS, JHA, referral sheet 17

    3/12/2026House
  19. Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Gabbard. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

    3/10/2026Senate
  20. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 182) in amended form (SD 2).

    3/10/2026House
  21. Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3099) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).

    3/6/2026Senate
  22. 48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.

    3/6/2026Senate
  23. The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Gabbard ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

    3/5/2026Senate
  24. The committee(s) on JDC deferred the measure until 03-05-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

    2/24/2026Senate
  25. The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-24-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

    2/13/2026Senate

Bill Text

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