HB 2593 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO MAUNA KEA.

Summary

Authorizes the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority to extend existing leases and subleases for up to an additional ten-year term. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action Mar 10, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB2593 → HB2593_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from a House bill to a House Committee version, changing the effective date from 'upon approval' to a distant future date of July 1, 3000, and replacing the original Section 2 with new statutory language that transfers land management powers to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority upon the expiration of a transition period.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a straightforward lease extension to a complex transfer of administrative authority and land management powers from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Land Use Commission to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from 'upon approval' to 'July 1, 3000', which appears to be a placeholder or error rather than an intended immediate effect.

REQUIREMENT

New statutory language was added to transfer specific powers and duties regarding permits, dispositions, and land use approvals from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Land Use Commission to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.

DEFINITION

The detailed definitions for 'astronomical observatory' and 'Mauna Kea lands' found in the original Section 2 were removed in this version.

TECHNICAL

The document structure was updated from a standard House Bill format to a House Committee (HD1) format, including metadata headers and a revised description of the bill's purpose.

Floor votes · House Mar 6, 2026

How they voted

40–7

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 50

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic40

32 Yea 5 Nay 3

80% Yea

R Republican10

8 Yea 2 Nay

80% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 10, 2026

Senate · Referred to committee

Referred to WLA/HWN/EDU, WAM/JDC.

Mar 10, 2026

Senate · Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 223).

Mar 6, 2026

House · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Alcos, Amato, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Grandinetti, Hartsfield, Hussey, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Souza voting no (7) and Representative(s) Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.

Feb 26, 2026

House · Reported by committee

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Poepoe, Garcia; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

Feb 12, 2026

House · Referred to committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 240-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

Feb 5, 2026

House · Reported by committee

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Woodson; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Belatti, Poepoe, Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Souza; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Iwamoto.

Feb 3, 2026

House · Referred to committee

Re-referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 7

Feb 2, 2026

House · Referred to committee

Referred to WAL, HED, JHA, referral sheet 6

Jan 28, 2026

House · Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

7 primary · 0 co-sponsors