Informing the Legislature that on June 5, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2104 HD2 SD1 CD1 (ACT 096).

This bill strengthens Island Burial Councils in Hawaii by addressing issues that have previously hindered their ability to protect Native Hawaiian ancestral remains. It achieves this by extending the time allowed to fill vacancies, providing per diem stipends to council members to improve recruitment and retention, and adjusting the quorum requirement so that a majority of appointed members can conduct business as long as at least three members are present. These changes aim to ensure that lineal and cultural descendants have a more meaningful voice in decisions regarding burial sites, particularly on less populated islands where councils often struggle to meet attendance requirements.