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HB 1052 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM.

Summary
Clarifies that the Public Utilities Commission, under the Universal Service Program, may use funds from the Universal Service Fund to provide free telecommunications access to time-sensitive information for individuals with print disabilities. (CD1)
Issues: ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill expands telecom access for people with print disabilities via Universal Service Fund, promoting digital equity and accessible technology infrastructure.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed Jun 9, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1052_SD1 → HB1052_SD2 · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends Hawaii's Universal Service Program to clarify the Public Utilities Commission's authority to use the Universal Service Fund to provide free telecommunications access to individuals with print disabilities. The changes include adding specific language to the program's purposes, establishing a $150,000 spending cap for print disability services, and clarifying how contributions to the fund are calculated.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of the Universal Service Program to explicitly include print disability services and clarifies the commission's authority to administer these services using existing fund resources.
ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit purpose to ensure access to essential telecommunications services for individuals with print disabilities, including free telephonic access to time-sensitive information for blind or visually impaired individuals.

FISCAL

Established a $150,000 cap on funds that can be expended from the Universal Service Fund for print disability services.

Modified Section 269-42 to clarify that the commission may determine the percentage of telecommunications fees contributed to the Universal Service Fund based on gross operating revenues.

REQUIREMENT

Modified Section 269-41 to clarify the commission's authority to administer the universal service program and establish criteria for meeting program purposes.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the Act to July 1, 2050.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
54
Key actions
21
Committee
21
Amendments
3
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
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).
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Introduced
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 166).
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 166) as amended in (CD 1).
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Takenouchi, Iwamoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kanuha, Aquino; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 3:50 PM; Conference Room 224.
upper
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 2:30PM in conference room 224.
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-24-25 2:30PM in conference room 224.
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-23-25 2:30PM in conference room 224.
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-22-25 2:30PM in conference room 224.
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Amended
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Introduced
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 721) in amended form (SD 2).
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
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.
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Committee
Reported from CPN/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1339) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Richards.
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS/CPN has rescheduled its public hearing to 03-19-25 9:30AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on CPN/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-19-25 8:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to CPN/HHS, WAM.
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 141).
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 13 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M., Alcos, Ward.
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Committee
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 422) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kong, Lowen.
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Committee
Referred to CPC, FIN, referral sheet 3
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
Pending introduction.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Nadine Nakamura
Nadine Nakamura
DDemocratic
HI
15