HB 1897 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

Summary

Amends the conditions and procedures of alternative dispute resolution methods for condominium-related disputes, including the use of facilitative mediation, evaluative mediation, or binding arbitration. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Apr 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1897_HD1 → HB1897_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's condominium dispute resolution laws by introducing a new type of 'facilitative mediation' alongside existing evaluative mediation and binding arbitration. It expands the definition of disputes eligible for these programs to include conflicts between developers and boards, and it reorganizes the statutory structure to clarify these procedures.

Scope change

The scope of eligible disputes was expanded to include conflicts between developers and the board or association, and the bill now explicitly recognizes facilitative mediation as a distinct option from evaluative mediation.

SCOPE

Added 'facilitative mediation' as a new, distinct alternative dispute resolution method alongside evaluative mediation and binding arbitration.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the definition of eligible disputes to include conflicts between developers and the board or association, and between associations/boards and managing agents.

REQUIREMENT

Modified appeal procedures to allow declaration, bylaws, or house rules to permit a longer time to initiate an appeal than the standard thirty days.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'facilitative mediation' and updated the definition of 'dispute' to cover more party combinations.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the bill's structure by adding new sections to Subpart D of Chapter 514B and repealing the old Subpart D to incorporate these changes.

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 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Wednesday, 04-29-26 3:30PM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 639) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Elefante. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kim, Richards). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-07-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3324) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Mar 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Lamosao, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) McKelvey ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Fukunaga; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-26 9:35AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPN, JDC.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 166).

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Iwamoto, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 684-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Kong, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Pierick; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Lowen.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPC, JHA, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

10 primary · 0 co-sponsors