# Hawaii SB 608: RELATING TO VETERANS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS.

Hawaii SB 608, RELATING TO VETERANS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Glenn Wakai (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-20 (Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1265-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB608-2026
- 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 608
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO VETERANS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2026-03-20, Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1265-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
- Sponsor: Glenn Wakai (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Subjects: Veterans Rights and Benefits, Advice, Assistance, Regulation, PBS, CPC, JHA
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 6 (94 yes, 2 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Regulates persons receiving compensation for providing advice or assistance regarding veterans benefits. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Glenn Wakai (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: AQUINO
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Michelle N. Kidani (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-20 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC... | pass | 48 | 1 |   |
| 2026-03-18 | House | The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 9 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-29 | Senate | The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 1 |   |

## Actions (21)

- 2026-03-20: Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1265-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC. (House)
- 2026-03-20: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). (House)
- 2026-03-18: The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. (House)
- 2026-03-12: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2026-03-12: Referred to PBS, CPC, JHA, referral sheet 17 (House)
- 2026-03-12: Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Wednesday, 03-18-26 9:30AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-10: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). 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. 138) in amended form (SD 2). (House)
- 2026-03-06: Reported from CPN/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2925) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26. (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao, McKelvey. (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: The committee(s) on CPN/JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-02-07: Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 83) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN/JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Fukunaga, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 01-29-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Referred to PSM, CPN/JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_HD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_.PDF)
- SB608_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_HD1_.HTM)
- SB608_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_SD1_.HTM)
- SB608_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_SD2_.HTM)

## 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
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_HD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_.PDF)
- [SB608_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB608_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB608_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB608_SD2_.HTM)

## 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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB608-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).