SB 869 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH BOARDS.

Summary

Defines community outreach board to mean a board established to serve in a community advisory capacity under a county commission or a county department. Includes community outreach boards in existing provisions of the Sunshine Law relating to neighborhood boards. Authorizes neighborhood board and community outreach board members to attend meetings or presentations related to official board business statewide. (HD1)

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed May 15, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB869_HD1 → SB869_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands the definition and legal treatment of community outreach boards in Hawaii by formally recognizing them alongside neighborhood boards under state sunshine laws. It clarifies that these boards serve in an advisory capacity under county commissions or departments and extends their members' ability to attend statewide meetings related to official business. The changes ensure these grassroots community groups have the same transparency protections and meeting access rights as established neighborhood boards.

Scope change

The bill expands applicability from only neighborhood boards to include community outreach boards, which were previously not clearly covered under existing neighborhood board provisions in Chapter 92 of Hawaii Revised Statutes.

DEFINITION

Added a formal definition for 'community outreach board' as a board serving in a community advisory capacity under a county commission or department.

REQUIREMENT

Modified Section 92-81 to explicitly include community outreach boards alongside neighborhood boards for sunshine law compliance and meeting procedures.

Modified Section 92-82 to allow community outreach board members to attend statewide meetings and presentations related to official board business.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from immediate approval to January 1, 2491 (likely a placeholder or error in the draft).

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 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fevella, Ihara).

upper

Apr 15, 2025

Introduced

Reconsideration of action taken on 04-03-25 in disagreeing to the House amendments.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 439).

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Todd, Garcia.

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to JHA, referral sheet 20

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 212) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 21, 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 02-21-25 10:20AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from GVO/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 317) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 4, 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

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to GVO/EIG, JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

3 primary · 2 co-sponsors