SB 1228 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Summary

Establishes a working group for legal services for youth in the child welfare system within the Judiciary. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for the working group. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1228 → SB1228_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision updates the working group's composition to include a domestic violence expert and three child welfare experts, while removing specific representation for guardians ad litem and the HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth Leadership Boards. It also extends the group's lifespan until December 31, 2050, and clarifies that the group must submit a report to the legislature.

Scope change

The scope of the working group's membership was expanded to include domestic violence and child welfare experts, while the requirement for specific legal and youth leadership representatives was removed.

REQUIREMENT

The working group membership was changed to require a representative from the Domestic Violence Action Center and three or more experts with lived expertise in the child welfare system, replacing the previous requirements for a guardian ad litem representative and HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth Leadership Board representatives.

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2050.

TIMELINE

The working group's expiration date was extended from June 30, 2026, to December 31, 2050.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated to indicate it is a Senate Draft (SD1) and the description was revised to explicitly require a report to the Legislature.

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

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 642) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-25 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor