HB 2165 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.

Summary

Amends the qualifications for unemployed individuals who are able to receive unemployment benefits. Beginning 4/1/2027, removes the two-year limitation on the recoupment of overpayments and limits the amount of overpaid amount and the penalty assessment amount that can be deducted from future benefits payable to the individual. Beginning 4/1/2027, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to assess and collect a service charge for dishonored unemployment insurance assessments. Beginning 4/1/2027, specifies that employers must report separation and wage information within five calendar days of notice being sent, whether by mail or electronic notification. Beginning 4/1/2027, increases the penalty for failure to report separations or wages and for failure to file or for filing insufficient wage reports. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Issues: ✗ Labor & Employment

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 26, 2026 Last action Apr 16, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB2165_HD2 → HB2165_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the effective dates of several unemployment insurance provisions to 2027 and 2077, replacing placeholder years. It also modifies the rules for waiving work registration requirements for suspended workers and clarifies how overpayments are calculated and deducted from future benefits. Additionally, it adjusts reporting deadlines for employers and increases penalties for failure to file accurate wage reports.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the Hawaii Unemployment Compensation Law, but the applicability of specific sections has shifted due to updated effective dates.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for most new provisions from July 1, 3000 to January 1, 2077, and April 1, 2027 to April 1, 2027, likely to align with a future fiscal year or legislative session.

ELIGIBILITY

Reordered and slightly reworded the list of exceptions where individuals suspended from work can still receive unemployment benefits without registering for work.

ENFORCEMENT

Increased the penalty for employers failing to file or filing insufficient wage reports from $30 to $300.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that employers must report separation and wage information within five calendar days of notice.

FISCAL

Clarified that deductions for overpaid benefits from future unemployment checks cannot exceed 50% of the weekly benefit amount and must not reduce the benefit below $250.

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 14, 2026

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 547) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 10, 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 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3351) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Fevella.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to LBT, WAM.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 372).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran, Grandinetti, Kapela, Perruso, Reyes Oda, Shimizu, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Amato, Garcia, Gedeon, Hussey, Iwamoto, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Poepoe voting no (10) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 4, 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, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Iwamoto; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 281-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to LAB, CPC, referral sheet 5

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors