SB 2198 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Summary

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study the establishment of a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program. Requires a report 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 11, 2026

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What changed between versions

SB2198 → SB2198_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to reflect its first Senate reading, updating the author's name, bill type, and various tracking numbers. The most significant substantive change is the effective date, which was moved from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2077, likely due to a clerical error or placeholder. Additionally, the report title was slightly reformatted, and minor text adjustments were made to the legislative findings for better readability.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it still directs the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study a workforce excellence award program.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2077.

TECHNICAL

The author's name was updated from Finnley Brakke to Megan O'Brien-Rene, and the bill type was changed from 'SB' to 'Bill SD'.

The report title was slightly rephrased for consistency, and the summary note was updated to reflect the new effective date.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 11, 2026

Senate · Passed

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

Feb 11, 2026

Senate · Referred to committee

Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2173) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

Feb 6, 2026

Senate · Reported by committee

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.

Feb 3, 2026

Senate · Reported by committee

The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

Jan 26, 2026

Senate · Referred to committee

Referred to LBT, WAM.

Jan 21, 2026

Senate · Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

Jan 14, 2026

Senate · Introduced

Pending Introduction.

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors