HB 555 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.

HB 555 requires most employers to provide employees with a 10-minute paid rest break for every four hours worked. This law directly affects covered employees in workplaces subject to the bill's requirements. The key provision mandates that employers authorize and permit these breaks, ensuring employees receive paid rest time during shifts. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000 (a date that appears to be a typographical error, as it is far in the future).

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

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

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB555 → HB555_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the requirements for paid rest periods in Hawaii, clarifying that employers must authorize and permit these breaks rather than just allowing them. It expands the penalty for non-compliance to cover any violation of the section as a separate offense and adds a specific exemption for employees excluded by collective bargaining agreements. The effective date of the law was changed from January 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000, likely to allow for further review or legislative action.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was expanded to include employees who are excluded counterparts under collective bargaining agreements, whereas the previous version only exempted those under such agreements.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the language from employers 'allowing' rest periods to 'authorizing and permitting' them, making the obligation more explicit.

ENFORCEMENT

Revised the penalty clause to state that any violation of the section is a separate offense, strengthening enforcement against multiple instances of non-compliance.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exemption for employees who are 'excluded counterparts' under collective bargaining agreements, broadening the scope of the exemption.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from January 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 482) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors