# Hawaii SB 444: RELATING TO STATE GOVERNMENT.

Hawaii SB 444, RELATING TO STATE GOVERNMENT., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Donovan M. Dela Cruz (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-SB444-2026
- 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 444
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO STATE GOVERNMENT.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-16
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Subjects: State Government, Boards and Commissions, Employment Decisions, GVO/LBT, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Authorizes boards and commissions to make employment decisions related to its officers and employees without the approval of the head of the department to which the board or commission is administratively attached.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Michelle N. Kidani (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joy A. San Buenaventura (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (7)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-02-06: The committee on GVO deferred the measure. (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: The committee on LBT deferred the measure. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on GVO/LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to GVO/LBT, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB444_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB444_.pdf)

## 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
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB444_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB444_.pdf)

## 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-SB444-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).