HB 2388 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PUBLIC NOTICE.

Summary
Establishes the Electronic Posting Pilot Project for any county with a population between one hundred thousand and 175,000, to be administered by the county clerk of each participating county. Allows county agencies to satisfy county-wide public notice requirements by posting notices on official county websites, while retaining publication as an option. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Last action Mar 30, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB2388 HB2388_HD1 · 7 edits
MODERATE
HD1 of HB 2388 adds two new protective provisions to the public notice modernization bill: an exemption for notices required under chapters 103D, 103F, 127A, and 523A (with optional supplemental electronic posting), and a savings clause ensuring that more specific statutory notice requirements in other laws continue to control. The draft also adds three new sections amending separate statutes (206E-5.6, 486H-13, and 844D-31) to conform their public notice language to the updated framework. Most notably, the effective date was changed from 'upon approval' to July 1, 3000, a placeholder that effectively prevents the bill from taking effect in the current session.
SCOPE

New subsection (e) exempts notices required by chapters 103D, 103F, 127A, and 523A from the electronic posting provisions. Agencies subject to those chapters may still provide supplemental electronic notice in addition to what those chapters require.

New Section 3 amends section 206E-5.6(b) to require public notice posted on the authority's website for decision-making hearings, with the hearing not occurring earlier than five business days after posting and a 20-day window for written motions to intervene.

New Section 4 amends section 486H-13(k) regarding the maximum pre-tax wholesale gasoline price, suspending it indefinitely and requiring the governor to publish statewide notice under section 1-28.5 before reinstating it for 30-day periods.

New Section 5 amends section 844D-31(b) by removing the word 'publication of' before 'notice by the attorney general pursuant to section 1-28.5,' aligning the language with the broader electronic notice framework.

REQUIREMENT

New subsection (f) adds a savings clause stating that this section does not supersede, alter, or diminish any more specific notice requirement imposed by another law. Where a conflict exists, the more specific statutory requirement controls unless that statute expressly provides otherwise.

TIMELINE

Effective date changed from 'upon its approval' to July 1, 3000, a far-future placeholder date that prevents the bill from taking effect during the current legislative session.

TECHNICAL

Section 1 findings reworded to remove specific statutory citations (section 92-7(b) and section 1-28.5), replacing them with general references to 'the sunshine law' and 'existing law.'

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
6
Committee
8
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Committee
Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3202) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Hashimoto, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Moriwaki.
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to GVO, WAM.
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Introduced
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 408).
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 652-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kong.
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Referred to LAB, JHA, referral sheet 6
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced
Pending introduction.
lower
17 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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