HB 477 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.

Summary

Amends the definition of "registered for work" or "registration for work" under the Hawaii Employment Security Law. Repeals the requirement to post work availability online. Amends the qualifications for unemployed individuals who are able to receive certain unemployment benefits. Beginning 4/1/2027, permits electronic notification of determinations or redeterminations of unemployment claims. Repeals language that limited an individual's ability to change a previously elected withholding status to once during a benefit year. (SD2)

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

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 17, 2025 Signed Jun 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB477_SD1 → HB477_SD2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill modernizes Hawaii's unemployment insurance system by updating the definition of 'registered for work' to allow individuals to register online, repealing the requirement to post work availability on a website, and expanding eligibility criteria for unemployment benefits. It also introduces electronic notification for benefit determinations and clarifies tax withholding options for claimants.

Scope change

The bill expands applicability by allowing online registration for work and electronic notifications, while removing the mandatory online posting requirement for work availability.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'registered for work' to include online registration through the department's internet job-matching system, replacing the requirement to post work availability online.

REQUIREMENT

Repealed the requirement that individuals must post their work availability on a website to meet registration requirements.

Established electronic notification as the primary method for delivering benefit determinations, with mail as an alternative if requested by the claimant.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new eligibility categories for unemployment benefits, including individuals involved in labor disputes, those suspended from work, and other special circumstances.

Removed the limitation that individuals could only change their tax withholding election once per benefit year.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date for most provisions to July 1, 2025, with electronic notification provisions taking effect on April 1, 2027.

HB477_HD1 → HB477_SD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's unemployment insurance law to modernize registration requirements, expand eligibility for certain workers, and transition to electronic notification systems. Key changes include redefining 'registered for work' to allow individuals to post information online rather than physically visiting employment offices, adding protections for workers suspended from work due to labor disputes, and allowing unlimited changes to tax withholding elections during a benefit year. The bill also repeals an outdated requirement for posting work availability online and establishes new rules for employer contribution rates during business acquisitions.

Scope change

The bill expands eligibility for unemployment benefits to include individuals suspended from work due to labor disputes and modifies work registration requirements to accommodate remote job searching through online systems.

DEFINITION

Redefines 'registered for work' to allow individuals to provide information to the department's internet job-matching system rather than requiring physical presence at employment offices.

ELIGIBILITY

Adds a new category for individuals suspended from work due to labor disputes who maintain an employer-employee relationship, with benefits limited to a maximum of four consecutive weeks.

Adds a new exemption category for individuals involved in labor disputes where the employer-employee relationship continues to exist.

REQUIREMENT

Repeals the requirement for individuals to post work availability online, instead allowing them to independently post information or have the department enter it on their behalf.

Removes the limit on how many times an individual can change their tax withholding election during a benefit year, allowing unlimited changes.

ENFORCEMENT

Updates appeal procedures to prioritize electronic notification for hearing notices and decisions, with electronic notification dates equivalent to mailing dates.

TIMELINE

Sets the effective date for most provisions to July 1, 2050, with electronic notification and certain eligibility changes taking effect earlier on April 1, 2027.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in SD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting no (7) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 21, 2025

Introduced

House agrees to Senate amendment(s).

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 645) 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: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite, Lee, C..

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

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, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-01-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1158) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

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) Aquino, Lee, C., Ihara, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Moriwaki.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-12-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to LBT, WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 19).

upper

Feb 27, 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: 12 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Miyake, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M., Morikawa, Alcos, Ward.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 539) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

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.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

10 primary · 0 co-sponsors