# Hawaii SB 336: RELATING TO THE DEFENSE OF STATE EMPLOYEES.

Hawaii SB 336, RELATING TO THE DEFENSE OF STATE EMPLOYEES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by AQUINO; status signed, last action 2025-05-29 (Act 120, 05/29/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1220).) (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB336-2025
- As of: 2026-10-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 336
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO THE DEFENSE OF STATE EMPLOYEES.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-14
- Last action: 2025-05-29, Act 120, 05/29/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1220).
- Sponsor: AQUINO
- Cosponsors: 5
- Subjects: State Employees, Professionally Licensed, Certified, Duty to Defend, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 11 (225 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the Attorney General, on behalf of the State, to defend professionally licensed or certified state employees from civil actions or proceedings, under certain circumstances. Clarifies that the employee may employ their own attorney at the employee's own expense. Establishes a process for the Attorney General to transfer or withdraw representation if the Attorney General declines to defend the employee. (CD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: AQUINO
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-30 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-25 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-25 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-08 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-31 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-18 | House | Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representativ... | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-11 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 10 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-26 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-26 | Senate | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | Senate | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (47)

- 2025-05-29: Act 120, 05/29/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1220). (Senate)
- 2025-05-29: Act 120, on 05/29/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1220). (House)
- 2025-05-02: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821). (Senate)
- 2025-05-02: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888). (House)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick excused (2). (House)
- 2025-04-25: The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Rhoads, Kanuha, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Kitagawa, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-04-25: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 142). (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 142) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2025-04-25: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25. (House)
- 2025-04-24: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 10:15AM; Conference Room 016. (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Senate Conferees Appointed: Aquino Chair; Rhoads, Kanuha Co-Chairs; Fevella. (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 860). (House)
- 2025-04-22: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-25 10:16AM; Conference Room 016. (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 754). (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Kitagawa Co-Chairs; Shimizu. (House)
- 2025-04-10: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 642). (Senate)
- 2025-04-10: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-10: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 779). (House)
- 2025-04-08: Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Marten excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-04-04: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2016) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-04: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-08-25. (House)
- 2025-03-31: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Holt, Ward. (House)
- 2025-03-28: Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-31-25 3:15PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-18: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1293), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-03-18: Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Muraoka voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-03-11: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-11-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to JHA, FIN, 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. 136). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 929) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: One Day Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-26: 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)
- 2025-02-26: The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:05AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 197) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in LBT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Lee, C., Ihara, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 01-31-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM. (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/session2025/bills/SB336_CD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB336_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1220_.PDF)
- SB336_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB336_CD1_.HTM)
- SB336_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB336_HD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)
- SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)
- SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE. (signed)
- SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT. (signed)
- HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB336_CD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB336_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1220_.PDF)
- [SB336_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB336_CD1_.HTM)
- [SB336_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB336_HD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1044-2025)
- [SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1231-2025)
- [SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB935-2025)
- [HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB703-2025)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB336-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).