SB 268 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO ISLAND BURIAL COUNCILS.

Summary

Decreases the size of the Island Burial Councils from nine to seven members. Removes the requirement for the councils to include members having development and large property owner interests. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Mar 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB268_HD1 → SB268_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill removes the requirement for island burial councils to include representatives of development and large property owner interests, arguing that these members detract from the councils' spiritual and cultural focus on caring for ancestral remains. The bill also reduces the number of council members from nine to seven on most islands (five on Moloka'i) to better align with Native Hawaiian values. This change makes the councils more representative of Native Hawaiian cultural practices and reduces the influence of development interests in burial council decisions.

Scope change

The bill narrows the membership composition requirements for island burial councils by eliminating the mandatory inclusion of development and large property owner representatives.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that island burial councils must include representatives of development and large property owner interests.

Reduced the number of council members from nine to seven on most islands (five on Moloka'i) to decrease overall council size.

Updated the statutory language to remove bracketed text indicating deleted requirements for development and landowner representatives.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 3000 to upon approval of the bill.

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

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1373) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Poepoe; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Shimizu; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 118) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from HWN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 209) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HWN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, San Buenaventura, Keohokalole, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara.

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HWN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to HWN, JDC.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors