SB 2090 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CHILD CUSTODY.

SB 2090 allows licensed mental health counselors to serve as child custody evaluators, expanding the pool of qualified professionals who can assess children's needs in custody cases. This change directly affects families involved in child custody disputes where mental health evaluations are required. The bill removes previous restrictions that limited this role to certain licensed professionals, enabling counselors with appropriate training to participate. It does not alter custody laws or standards but broadens who can conduct these evaluations. The measure passed a committee recommendation with four supporting votes in January 2026.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Apr 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2090 → SB2090_HD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill expands the pool of professionals eligible to conduct child custody evaluations in Hawaii to include licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs), who currently cannot serve in this role despite having equivalent training to other qualified evaluators. The change aims to address a severe shortage of evaluators and reduce high costs for families by increasing the supply of available professionals. Additionally, the bill includes a significant technical adjustment to the effective date, moving the implementation from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000.

Scope change

The bill's scope broadened to include licensed mental health counselors as eligible child custody evaluators, whereas previously only marriage and family therapists, psychiatrists, and mental health counselors (under a different chapter) were eligible.

ELIGIBILITY

Licensed mental health counselors are now explicitly authorized to serve as child custody evaluators, addressing a gap where they were excluded despite meeting professional standards.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000, likely due to a clerical error or placeholder update in the draft.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and text capitalization adjustments were made throughout the document, such as changing 'relating to child custody' to 'RELATING TO CHILD CUSTODY'.

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 9, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 484).

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Takayama, Cochran, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Sayama.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1373-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

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, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 166).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

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 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Awa.

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-27-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2248) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

6 primary · 1 co-sponsor