SB 1065 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO SKILLS-BASED HIRING.

Summary

Prohibits the State or any of its departments, agencies, or political subdivisions from requiring a bachelor's degree as a condition of eligibility for hire to a position in state or county employment. Establishes exemptions. (CD1)

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Jul 2025

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed Jul 2, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1065_SD1 → SB1065_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill version was updated from a Senate Draft 1 to Senate Draft 2, primarily changing the bill number designation from S.D. 1 to S.D. 2. The substantive policy content remains the same, with no changes to the actual law text, requirements, or provisions.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains unchanged; it still prohibits state agencies from requiring bachelor's degrees for hiring, with an exemption for positions where skills can only be obtained through degree programs.

TECHNICAL

Bill designation changed from S.D. 1 to S.D. 2 in the header and footer metadata.

Metadata fields added including author names, timestamps, and document version information.

The effective date was changed from July 1, 2050 to 'upon approval' in the final version.

SCOPE

The scope of employment covered was expanded to include county employment in addition to state employment.

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 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

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 145) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

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. 145).

upper

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) Sayama, Lee, M., Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

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

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 4:30 PM; Conference Room 016.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 2:30 PM; Conference Room 016.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 10:15AM; Conference Room 016.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-25 10:16AM; Conference Room 016.

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 480).

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Ward.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1389) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 18, 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; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 254) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 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

Feb 18, 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

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-18-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from LBT/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 348) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C., Ihara.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to LBT/GVO, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors