SB 479 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE HAWAII ABLE SAVINGS PROGRAM.

Summary

Repeals language that gives the Director of Finance discretion to use moneys in the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program Trust Fund if the Director elects to accept deposits from contributors instead of sending deposits directly to the ABLE Program Manager. Authorizes the Director of Finance to expend moneys in the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program Trust Fund to provide incentive payments to ABLE account owners. Establishes a position within the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Appropriates funds. (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 17, 2025 Signed Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB479_HD1 → SB479_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill modifies the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program by removing the Director of Finance's discretion to accept deposits directly and instead requiring funds to be sent to the program manager. It authorizes the Director to use trust fund money for incentive payments to account owners and establishes new appropriations for these incentives and a new full-time position for program outreach. The effective date was changed from July 1, 3000 to December 31, 2050.

Scope change

The bill expands the program's operational flexibility by allowing incentive payments and adding a dedicated outreach position, while clarifying deposit procedures.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the Director of Finance's discretion to accept deposits directly from contributors; deposits must now go to the ABLE program manager.

Established a new 1.0 FTE permanent position in the Department of Health for statewide outreach, advocacy, and relationship management.

FISCAL

Authorized the Director of Finance to use trust fund moneys for incentive payments to ABLE account owners.

Created new appropriations for incentive payments to ABLE account owners.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 3000 to December 31, 2050.

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. 136) 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. 136).

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) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Garcia; 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: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 3:30PM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 3:30PM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-25 3:30PM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 649).

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Marten excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1415), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 163) 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 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-27-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 566) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:20PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors