SB 1638 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AIR CARRIERS.

Summary

Establishes within the Department of Transportation a three-year Molokai Air Carrier Subsidy Pilot Program to provide subsidies to airlines operating out of Molokai Airport. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Apr 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1638_SD1 → SB1638_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill update changes the Senate designation from SD1 to SD2 and updates the bill's metadata, including the author's name and version numbers. The core policy content remains focused on establishing a subsidy program for airlines serving Molokai Airport to help residents afford travel costs.

Scope change

The bill's substantive scope regarding the Molokai air carrier subsidy program remains unchanged; only administrative metadata and formatting were modified.

TECHNICAL

Updated the Senate designation from SD1 to SD2 and changed the bill title header from 'SMA' to the author's name, 'Paul Kanoho'.

Revised the bill metadata, including the page count, version numbers, and specific timestamps associated with the bill's history.

Adjusted the appropriation language to specify that funds go to the 'administration division (TRN995)' instead of just the general program.

Changed the effective date description from 'Appropriates funds' to 'Appropriates moneys' and updated the bill summary text to reflect the SD2 designation.

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 17, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to TRS, WAM.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 620).

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1384) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Pierick; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to TRN, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 384) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-27-25 10:26AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

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 TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 487) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-25 3:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors