SB 2400 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

SB 2400 proposes to exempt operators of "wing-in-ground craft" (vehicles that fly just above water, like certain hovercraft) from Hawaii's Water Carriers Act. It directly affects businesses or individuals operating these specific watercraft by removing a regulatory requirement they currently face. The bill defines "wing-in-ground craft" to clarify which vehicles qualify for the exemption. The bill is currently pending committee review and has not yet been voted on.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed May 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2400_HD1 → SB2400_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was updated from the House version to the Senate version, primarily changing the effective date from a distant future (July 1, 3000) to immediate approval. The text was also slightly rephrased to remove the specific mention of transporting passengers from the exemption, broadening the scope to cover all operators of wing-in-ground craft. These changes ensure the law applies immediately upon signing and covers the technology regardless of whether it is carrying people or cargo.

Scope change

The exemption now applies to all operators of wing-in-ground craft, not just those transporting passengers, and the law becomes effective immediately upon approval rather than a future date.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from July 1, 3000, to 'upon its approval,' meaning the law takes effect immediately when signed.

SCOPE

The exemption from the Hawaii Water Carrier Act was broadened to apply to all operators of wing-in-ground craft, removing the specific condition that they must be engaged in transporting passengers.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and punctuation adjustments were made to the legislative findings and descriptions.

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 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Belatti, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Hartsfield, Iwamoto, Muraoka, Perruso, Poepoe, Shimizu voting no (11) and none excused (0).

lower

May 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 163-26) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

May 1, 2026

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.

upper

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 163-26).

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Matayoshi, Miyake; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Muraoka; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Keohokalole, Elefante, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 2:30PM in Conference Room 411.

lower

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 12:30PM in Conference Room 329.

lower

Apr 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 05-01-26 9:31AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to TRN, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 37

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 475).

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Hartsfield, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Poepoe, Shimizu voting no (8) and Representative(s) Cochran, Olds, Quinlan excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1471-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica; Ayes with reservations: none; 3 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran, Muraoka, Pierick; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to TRN, CPC, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 230) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 25, 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, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to CPN.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from TRS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2324) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to CPN.

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TRS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-12-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to TRS, CPN.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors