# Hawaii SB 2909: RELATING TO PERMITTING.

Hawaii SB 2909, RELATING TO PERMITTING., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Glenn Wakai (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-01-30 (Referred to EDT/EDU, WAM.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2909-2026
- 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 2909
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO PERMITTING.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-01-30, Referred to EDT/EDU, WAM.
- Sponsor: Glenn Wakai (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: Permitting, Permitting Workforce Pipeline, Hiring, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, University of Hawaii, Community Colleges, Counties, Appropriation, EDT/EDU, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Implements certain recommendations of the SPEED Task Force. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a permitting workforce pipeline in partnership with the University of Hawaii and community colleges and coordinate with state and county permitting agencies on certain tasks related to classification levels, salary and benefits, hiring, and responsibilities of employees. Appropriates funds.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Glenn Wakai (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angus L.K. McKelvey (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joy A. San Buenaventura (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (3)

- 2026-01-30: Referred to EDT/EDU, WAM. (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/SB2909_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2909_.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 2866: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2909_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2909_.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 2866: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2866-2026)
- [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-SB2909-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).