SB 2116 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

Summary

Requires the Attorney General to establish a confidential process for persons to anonymously file complaints against public employees. Requires the Attorney General to review and forward the complaints to the department, board, commission, or agency deemed appropriate by the Attorney General. Requires the departments, boards, commissions, and agencies to process the complaint pursuant to their standard complaint-processing procedures and report the disposition to the Attorney General. Authorizes the Attorney General to adopt rules. Requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (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 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2116 → SB2116_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from a Senate version to a Senate District 1 version, updating metadata like author names and dates. Substantively, the complaint process was modified to require employees to notify law enforcement for imminent dangers, the Attorney General's rule-making authority was changed from mandatory to optional, and the effective date was set to January 1, 2077. A new section was added to appropriate funds for the Attorney General to establish the confidential complaint process.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on public employees and the Attorney General, but the specific requirements for handling imminent dangers and the timeline for implementation have changed.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for the Attorney General to adopt rules to implement the bill was changed to optional authorization.

ENFORCEMENT

The process for handling imminent dangers was altered to require employees to notify law enforcement instead of the Attorney General notifying agencies.

FISCAL

A new section was added to appropriate state funds for the Attorney General to establish the confidential complaint process.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from approval to January 1, 2077.

TECHNICAL

Metadata including the bill title, author names, and revision numbers were updated to reflect the Senate District 1 version.

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 25, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-24-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2114) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to LBT, JDC.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Ihara, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

7 primary · 2 co-sponsors