# Hawaii SB 2659: RELATING TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

Hawaii SB 2659, RELATING TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-18 (Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2334) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2659-2026
- 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 2659
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-02-18, Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2334) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.
- Sponsor: Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Subjects: BOR, RCUH, Membership, Qualification, EDU, JDC
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (3 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Prohibits active employees of the University of Hawaii or the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii from serving on the Board of Regents.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Samantha DeCorte (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Michelle N. Kidani (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Glenn Wakai (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |

## Actions (9)

- 2026-02-18: Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2334) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Hashimoto. (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: The committee(s) on EDU has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-13-26 1:05PM; CR 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-08: The committee(s) on EDU deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 1:05PM; CR 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Referred to EDU, JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2659_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2659_.pdf)

## 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
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2659_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2659_.pdf)

## 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)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2659-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).