HB 596 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

HB 596 clarifies the specific types of events that qualify as disasters or emergencies under the state's emergency management system. It directly affects emergency management agencies and local governments by defining the scope of events triggering emergency protocols. The bill establishes clear criteria for what constitutes a disaster or emergency, replacing vague terms with specific examples. It takes effect on July 1, 2050.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 15, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB596_HD1 → HB596_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill modifies the definitions of 'disaster' and 'emergency' in Hawaii's emergency management statutes. The most significant change is updating the effective date from July 1, 3000 to July 1, 2050. The definitions themselves show minor text corrections and formatting adjustments between the House and Senate versions, but the core meaning remains consistent.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on emergency management definitions, but the effective date change means the updated definitions will apply for an additional 45 years.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 3000 to July 1, 2050, extending when the new definitions become law.

DEFINITION

Minor text corrections and formatting adjustments to the definitions of 'disaster' and 'emergency' between House and Senate versions.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill designation from HD1 (House Draft) to SD1 (Senate Draft) with corresponding header and footer updates.

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 10, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 656) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Moriwaki, San Buenaventura. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) McKelvey). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 4, 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, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-04-25 10:46AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1123) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in PSM were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Fukunaga, Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-12-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to PSM, WAM.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 111).

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 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 545) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Jan 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

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, Lamosao, Morikawa, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to PBS, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

9 primary · 0 co-sponsors