# Hawaii SB 3144: RELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.

Hawaii SB 3144, RELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Act 041, 05/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1141).); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB3144-2026
- 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 3144
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-26
- Last action: 2026-05-26, Act 041, 05/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1141).
- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Complaints, Determinations, Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board, LAB, CPC
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 7 (148 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Repeals the requirement that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations regulate hoisting machines and certify their operators and the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board, including its rules requiring a separate state crane operator certificate. Allows additional time for the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to complete an investigation of a discharge or discrimination complaint pertaining to employees exercising rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Law without formal extension. (HD2)

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Set decision deadlines for worker complaints: benefit, low. Employees who face discharge or discrimination for using workplace safety rights can file a complaint within 60 days. The director must investigate and, when a violation is found, order relief such as reinstatement with back pay and restored seniority. The director must tell the employee the final…
- Hawaii ends state crane operator certificates: mixed, medium. Starting July 1, 2026, Hawaii no longer regulates hoisting machines or certifies their operators. The law also ends the advisory board and removes related definitions. Employers and operators face fewer state requirements, but the state’s hoisting-machine safety oversight is reduced.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

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

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-08 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-01 | House | The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 11 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-24 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC... | pass | 48 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-19 | House | The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (39)

- 2026-05-26: Act 041, 05/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1141). (Senate)
- 2026-05-26: Act 041, on 05/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1141). (House)
- 2026-04-22: Passed Final Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2026-04-21: Reconsideration of action taken on 04-09-26 in disagreeing to the House amendments. (Senate)
- 2026-04-21: Senate agrees with House amendments. Placed on the calendar for Final Reading on 04-22-26. (Senate)
- 2026-04-21: One Day Notice 04-22-26 (Senate)
- 2026-04-21: Received notice of reconsideration and Senate agreement (Sen. Com. No. 716). (House)
- 2026-04-10: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564). (House)
- 2026-04-09: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 492). (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2026-04-06: Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1807-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2026-04-06: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-08-26. (House)
- 2026-04-01: The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 04-01-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-24: Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1368-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC. (House)
- 2026-03-24: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2). (House)
- 2026-03-19: The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2026-03-16: Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Thursday, 03-19-26 9:35AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-12: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2026-03-12: Referred to LAB, CPC, referral sheet 17 (House)
- 2026-03-10: Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 370) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2026-03-06: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3086) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: One Day Notice 03-10-26. (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-05-26 10:01AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2318) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. (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)
- 2026-02-10: Public notice requirement waived pursuant to Senate Rule 21. (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: The committee(s) on LBT has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-11-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-08: The committee(s) on LBT deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 3:01PM; CR 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Referred to LBT, JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3144_HD2_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3144_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/GM1141_.PDF)
- SB3144_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3144_HD1_.HTM)
- SB3144_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3144_HD2_.HTM)
- SB3144_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3144_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 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3144_HD2_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3144_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/GM1141_.PDF)
- [SB3144_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3144_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB3144_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3144_HD2_.HTM)
- [SB3144_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3144_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 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2964-2026)
- [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-SB3144-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).