HB 1589 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.

Summary

Establishes the Hawaii Dementia Initiative Business Recognition Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to collaborate with the Executive Office on Aging to implement the program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026

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What changed between versions

HB1589 → HB1589_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to formally name the program the 'Hawaii dementia initiative business recognition program' and explicitly require the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to collaborate with the Executive Office on Aging. The training requirement for businesses was increased from 100% to 85% of current employees, and new sections were added to mandate the creation of operational guidance for staff and the gathering of feedback from non-profit organizations.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include a formal partnership between the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Executive Office on Aging for program implementation and guidance development.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for employee training was changed from 100% of current employees to 85% to qualify a business as dementia-friendly or a dementia business champion.

New provisions require the department to draft written guidance and protocols for staff to reference when interacting with customers or coworkers with dementia.

The Executive Office on Aging is now tasked with gathering feedback from non-profit organizations specializing in dementia to improve the program.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000.

SCOPE

The report title and description were updated to reflect the new collaborative role of the Executive Office on Aging in the program.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 507-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

21 primary · 0 co-sponsors