SB 1496 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS.

Summary

Makes it an unlawful discriminatory practice for places of public accommodation to deny a person with a disability full and equal enjoyment of, or information related to, their goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations using information and communication technology intended for use by the general public as applicants, participants, customers, clients, or visitors. Establishes exceptions. Clarifies that a facility is considered a place of public accommodation regardless of whether its presence in the State is physical or digital. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Apr 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1496_HD2 → SB1496_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from a House draft to a Senate version, changing the effective date from the distant year 3000 to December 31, 2050. The Senate version also refined the definition of discriminatory practices to explicitly include denial of information related to services and clarified that facilities are covered regardless of whether they are physical or digital. Additionally, the Senate version added a specific exemption for businesses if complying with accessibility standards would impose an undue burden or fundamentally alter their operations.

Scope change

The scope remains focused on electronic accessibility for public accommodations, but the definition of covered entities was slightly broadened to explicitly include digital facilities, and the list of affected technologies was narrowed by removing specific items like laptops and printers.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the law was changed from July 1, 3000 to December 31, 2050.

REQUIREMENT

The definition of discriminatory practices was updated to explicitly include denying access to information related to services, facilities, and privileges.

A new exemption was added stating that businesses are not in violation if complying with accessibility rules would cause an undue burden or fundamentally alter their nature.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'place of public accommodation' was clarified to apply regardless of whether the facility is physical or digital.

TECHNICAL

The list of specific technologies subject to the law was shortened by removing references to laptops and printers.

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

Amendments

Apr 8, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 614).

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Hashem, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kahaloa.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1341) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 354) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 9:40AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS/LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 530) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Lee, C., Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Fevella.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fevella.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 1:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/LBT, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors