SB 2607 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.

Summary

Authorizes the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects to determine the appropriate educational and examination requirements for landscape architect licensure. Clarifies experience requirements for landscape architect licensure. (CD1)

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Signed May 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2607_HD1 → SB2607_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the licensure requirements for landscape architects in Hawaii to align with a new uniform standard adopted by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards. The changes clarify that the board must approve applicants to practice, modify the specific knowledge areas tested on licensing exams to include local conditions, and adjust the years of experience required for licensure based on the applicant's educational background. The effective date of the law is also extended from the year 3000 to 2050.

Scope change

The bill applies specifically to the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects and the qualifications for becoming a licensed landscape architect in Hawaii.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the licensure standard from adopting a specific 'Uniform Licensure Standard' document to adopting a general 'uniform standard' for landscape architecture licensure.

Updated the exam content requirements to explicitly test knowledge of the State's climatic conditions, native plants, ecosystems, land use ordinances, special management areas, and cultural/historical conditions.

ELIGIBILITY

Adjusted the required years of full-time lawful experience for landscape architects based on their educational credentials (e.g., reducing experience requirements for those with degrees from non-approved schools or those relying on experience alone).

TIMELINE

Extended the effective date of the Act from July 1, 3000, 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 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) 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

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 74-26) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Introduced

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

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 74-26).

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 2 Ayes: Representative(s) Grandinetti, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Lamosao, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 2:25PM; Conference Room 224.

upper

Apr 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-28-26 2:00PM; Conference Room 224.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 516).

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Iwamoto, Kong, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Lowen.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPC, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 270) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-04-26 9:35AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPN.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors