HB 2088 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO ADOPTIONS.

HB 2088 requires written consent for adoptions to be notarized, directly affecting birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoption agencies involved in the process. The bill adds a new procedural step where all written adoption consents must be verified by a notary public before being submitted. This change aims to standardize documentation and verify consent authenticity in adoption cases. The bill passed unanimously in the Judiciary and Housing Committee on February 4, 2026, and is pending final passage by the full House. It does not alter adoption eligibility or child welfare standards but modifies the documentation requirements for consent.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Signed Apr 29, 2026

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

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

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 and referred to JDC.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3301) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 1:40PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 181).

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Hashem, Olds, Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (5). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors