SB 199 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN CULTURE.

Summary

Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to establish and maintain Native Hawaiian cultural centers within the State. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to construct one cultural center on Oahu by 2040. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to submit reports to the Legislature regarding the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' compliance with this Act. Appropriates funds for the planning and design of the first Native Hawaiian cultural center. Effective 7/1/2050. (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 13, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB199 → SB199_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to add a specific requirement for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to construct a cultural center on Oahu by 2040, while renumbering subsequent sections to accommodate this new mandate. The effective date of the legislation was significantly delayed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050, likely to align with the long-term construction timeline. The bill's title and summary were also updated to reflect the new construction requirement and the addition of reporting duties.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a general mandate to establish cultural centers statewide to include a specific construction project on Oahu.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to construct a cultural center on Oahu by the year 2040.

Renumbered sections and added a new section requiring the Office to submit reports to the legislature regarding compliance.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title and summary to reflect the new construction requirement and reporting obligations.

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 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from HWN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 208) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HWN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to HWN, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors