SB 1523 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PRIVATE SECTOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS.

Summary

Expands the types of employees protected by the Hawaii Employment Relations Act to include independent contractors and all individuals subject to the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1523 → SB1523_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands the definition of 'employee' under Hawaii's labor laws to include independent contractors and workers previously excluded from federal labor protections. It also updates the effective date to July 1, 2050, and appropriates funding for the labor board to manage these expanded responsibilities.

Scope change

The bill's scope broadens from covering only traditional employees to explicitly including independent contractors and individuals subject to the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 and the Railway Labor Act of 1926.

ELIGIBILITY

Independent contractors and individuals under specific federal labor acts are now included as protected employees.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the act was changed from immediate approval to July 1, 2050.

FISCAL

Funds were appropriated for the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to serve the newly expanded population of protected workers.

TECHNICAL

Specific federal acts were updated to include their full names and years (National Labor Relations Act of 1935 and Railway Labor Act of 1926).

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 12, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 402) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Lee, C., Ihara, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 3:15PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to LBT, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

6 primary · 1 co-sponsor