SB 2037 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Summary

Prohibits condominium associations from charging unit owners attorneys' fees on fines unless deemed collectable. Allows a court to assess charges against a party requesting trial de novo if the requesting party fails to better its position by thirty per cent or more. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2037 → SB2037_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from a Senate introduction to a Senate District 1 amendment, changing the effective date from immediate approval to July 1, 2050. The text was reformatted to remove bracketed placeholders and add specific procedural details regarding appeals and small claims court actions. The summary description was updated to reflect these new procedural requirements and the delayed effective date.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on condominium associations and attorney fee limits, but the applicability timeline has shifted significantly due to the new effective date.

TIMELINE

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

ENFORCEMENT

Added a requirement that a fine is deemed collectable only if a small claims court has not invalidated it within 90 days after a timely action is initiated.

Clarified that the time limit for appealing a fine must be based on the association's own governing documents.

TECHNICAL

Removed bracketed placeholders and updated the summary description to include the new small claims court provision and the new effective date.

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 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2390) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-26 9:30AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPN, JDC.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors