SB 2109 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMUNICATIONS.

Summary

Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop and implement a statewide public education and communications program to promote household emergency preparedness consistent with the Agency's 14-day essential supplies recommendation. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide an American Sign Language interpreter during each official live broadcast during a state of emergency. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the American Sign Language interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are visible during the broadcast. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide a primary pool feed that includes the American Sign Language interpreter in a picture‑in‑picture window. Requires reports to the Legislature prior to the Regular Sessions of 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action May 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2109_SD1 → SB2109_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the implementation timeline for emergency preparedness and accessibility requirements, shifting key deadlines from 2026 to 2027 or later. It also extends the reporting period for agency performance reviews and significantly delays the effective date of the entire act from July 2026 to July 2050. These changes allow more time for agencies to develop programs and for the state to address long-term legislative goals.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on emergency preparedness and ASL interpreter requirements, but the applicability of these rules is delayed by several years.

TIMELINE

The deadline for launching the statewide public education program was moved from an immediate requirement to July 1, 2027.

The requirement for ASL interpreters during emergency broadcasts was delayed to begin on July 1, 2027.

The reporting period for the Emergency Management Agency was extended from 2027-2029 to 2028-2030.

The effective date of the entire act was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2050.

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

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:51 PM; Conference Room 016.

upper

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:40 PM; Conference Room 016.

upper

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:10 PM; Conference Room 016.

upper

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 4:30 PM; Conference Room 016.

upper

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 3:30 PM; Conference Room 016.

upper

Apr 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 05-01-26 1:45PM; Conference Room 016.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 625).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1562-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to PBS, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 172) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

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

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:17AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2642) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM will hold a public decision making on 02-18-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee on PSM has deleted the measure from decision making scheduled on 02-11-26 3:00PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM will hold a public decision making on 02-11-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to PSM, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

3 primary · 2 co-sponsors