SB 1651 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO PUBLIC MEETINGS.

Summary

Requires board packets to be posted at least three full business days before a public meeting. Requires boards to provide notice to persons who have requested notification of meetings at the time the board packet is made available for public inspection. (CD1)

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

Jun 2025

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Signed Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1651_HD2 → SB1651_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill tightens public meeting transparency rules by requiring board packets to be posted no later than 7:45 a.m. on the third business day before a meeting (instead of just two full business days), and mandates that boards notify registered attendees when packets are made available. The changes aim to prevent agencies from posting materials late in the day and ensure the public has adequate time to review documents before meetings.

Scope change

The bill maintains its scope to public meetings but modifies the timing requirements for board packet distribution and adds specific notification obligations for registered attendees.

REQUIREMENT

Changed board packet posting deadline from 'two full business days before' to 'no later than 7:45 a.m. on the third business day before' to prevent late-night posting.

Added requirement for boards to provide notice to persons requesting notification of meetings when board packets become available for public inspection.

TIMELINE

Changed effective date from July 1, 3000 to January 1, 2491 (likely placeholder dates that need correction).

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 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 47) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 47).

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Perruso, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 016.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 701).

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1470) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kapela.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to LAB, JHA, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 61) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-20-25 10:01AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 413) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

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, Gabbard, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to GVO, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors