RELATING TO SPACE OPERATIONS.
Summary
Establishes within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism the Hawaii Orbital Sustainability and Space Traffic Board and orbital tracking and traffic management system. Establishes registration and compliance standards for aerospace activities in state airspace. Authorizes the awarding of research, education, and workforce development grants. Requires compliance with the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act and historic preservation requirements, and Native Hawaiian cultural consultation. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. 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 23, 2026
Last action Feb 20, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
HB1904
→
HB1904_HD1
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This revision updates the bill's metadata and formatting while making significant substantive changes to the bill's timeline and board composition. The most critical change is the effective date, which was moved from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000, effectively deferring the law's implementation indefinitely. Additionally, the method for selecting private-sector experts on the new oversight board was changed from an 'invitation' process to a formal 'nomination' process.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on space operations, but the applicability of the new board and regulations is delayed until the year 3000.
TIMELINE
The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000, meaning the new laws and regulations will not take effect for over 700 years.
REQUIREMENT
The process for selecting private-sector experts on the new Space Traffic Board was changed from being 'invited' by the Governor to being formally 'nominated' by the Governor.
The requirement for the Board to submit a detailed report 20 days before each legislative session was simplified to a general requirement to submit 'annual reports' pursuant to a specific section.
TECHNICAL
The appropriation amount for the fiscal year was changed from a specific sum of $5,000,000 to a blank line, leaving the exact funding amount to be determined later.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
7
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 615-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Committee
Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 2
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Introduced
Pending introduction.
lower
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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