HB 554 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.

HB 554 designates the second new moon after the winter solstice each year as the state's official Lunar New Year observance, effective July 1, 3000. This is a symbolic designation with no near-term impact, as the effective date is over 995 years in the future. The bill does not change current holiday schedules or create new paid leave. It is a procedural measure to formally recognize Lunar New Year as a state holiday on a distant date. The committee recommended passage with amendments, but the bill will not affect any current or foreseeable legislative or policy implementation.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB554 → HB554_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove the language establishing the Lunar New Year as a state holiday, effectively preventing it from becoming an official day off for government employees. The amendment clarifies that while the date is recognized as the Lunar New Year, it is explicitly not a state holiday. The effective date for this change was set to July 1, 3000, indicating the amendment is intended to be permanent or long-term.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly reduced from establishing a new state holiday to merely designating a specific date as the Lunar New Year without granting it holiday status.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the provision that designates the Lunar New Year as a state holiday, meaning it will no longer be an official day off for state workers.

DEFINITION

Added a new section defining the Lunar New Year as the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice, but explicitly stating it is not a state holiday.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from immediate approval to July 1, 3000.

SCOPE

Altered the bill's purpose from honoring the holiday with a day off to simply acknowledging the date's significance without granting time off.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 364) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Kong, Garrett, Lee, M., Sayama; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Reyes Oda.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to CAA, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors