# Hawaii SB 2778: RELATING TO ETHICS.

Hawaii SB 2778, RELATING TO ETHICS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Jarrett Keohokalole (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-18 (Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2315) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2778-2026
- 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 2778
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO ETHICS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-02-18, Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2315) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.
- Sponsor: Jarrett Keohokalole (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: State Ethics Commission, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Hawaii State Legislature, Executive Agencies, Securities, Trading, Acquisition, Ownership, Prohibited, Penalties, Fines, LBT, JDC/WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (4 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, member of the Legislature, department heads and their deputies, and any spouse or dependent child of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, member of the Legislature, or department head and their deputies to place certain financial interests in a blind trust. Prohibits a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, member of the Legislature, department head and their deputies, and any spouse or dependent child of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, member of the Legislature, or department head and their deputies from acquiring certain financial interests during their term of service. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jarrett Keohokalole (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joy A. San Buenaventura (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

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

## Actions (7)

- 2026-02-18: Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2315) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM. (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)
- 2026-02-06: The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2778_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2778_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2778_.PDF)
- SB2778_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2778_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/SB2778_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2778_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2778_.PDF)
- [SB2778_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2778_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-SB2778-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).