# Hawaii SB 268: RELATING TO ISLAND BURIAL COUNCILS.

Hawaii SB 268, RELATING TO ISLAND BURIAL COUNCILS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-12-08 (Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB268-2026
- 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 268
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO ISLAND BURIAL COUNCILS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-14
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Office of Hawaiian Affairs Package, Burial Councils, Composition, WAL, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (85 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Decreases the size of the Island Burial Councils from nine to seven members. Removes the requirement for the councils to include members having development and large property owner interests. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-19 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA... | pass | 45 | 4 |   |
| 2025-03-13 | House | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 8 | 1 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 3 | 1 |   |
| 2025-01-28 | Senate | The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (20)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-03-19: Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1373) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. (House)
- 2025-03-19: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-03-13: The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Poepoe; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Shimizu; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson. (House)
- 2025-03-10: Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 03-13-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 118) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 873) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: One Day Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Reported from HWN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 209) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HWN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, San Buenaventura, Keohokalole, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara. (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: The committee(s) on HWN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HWN, JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-14: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB268_HD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB268_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB268_.PDF)
- SB268_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB268_HD1_.HTM)
- SB268_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB268_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)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB268_HD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB268_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB268_.PDF)
- [SB268_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB268_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB268_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB268_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)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
- [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-SB268-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).