HB 1900 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO REMEDIES.

Summary
Prohibits actions based on a building code violation unless the violation was a material violation of the building code. Specifies that claimants must comply with the Contractor Repair Act and bars persons from joining a class action for failure to comply with the Contractor Repair Act. Repeals the requirement that inspections and testing be completed within nine months. Deletes duplicative language for when persons may accept a settlement offer. Limits the amount a claimant can recover if the claimant rejects a contractor's reasonable proposal for inspection or a reasonable offer to remedy. (HD1)
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 11, 2026
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What changed between versions

HB1900 HB1900_HD1 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the statute of repose timeline for construction defect claims and clarifies that lawsuits based on building code violations are only valid if the violation is 'material.' It also simplifies the notice of claim requirements and tightens the rules for accepting contractor settlement offers or inspection proposals, removing previous ambiguities about how claims are processed.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of the statute of repose by removing a specific ten-year limit on when claims can be filed, while simultaneously narrowing the scope of liability by excluding non-material building code violations from legal action.
TIMELINE

Removed the ten-year statute of repose limit for construction defect claims, allowing lawsuits to be filed beyond that timeframe.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that any lawsuit based on a building code violation must prove the violation was 'material' to be valid.

MODIFIED

Simplified the notice of claim requirements by removing specific bracketed instructions on detail levels and clarifying the process for accepting inspection proposals and settlement offers.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that owners or surveyors are not liable for damages resulting from their own negligent repair, maintenance, or boundary survey errors.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 201-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Kong; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Pierick; and Excused: none.
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
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors