SB 2929 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PUBLIC NOTICE.

Summary

Authorizes government agencies to satisfy public notice requirements by electronic posting on official state or county websites or electronic calendars, while preserving traditional publication as an option. Directs the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, in consultation with the Access Hawaii Committee, to adopt rules governing the implementation of electronic notice before the electronic notice authorization takes legal effect. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Apr 21, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2929_HD2 → SB2929_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was fundamentally rewritten to shift from a statewide electronic notice system to a limited pilot program. Instead of allowing all state agencies to post notices online, the new version only permits counties with populations between 100,000 and 175,000 to test posting notices on county websites. The Office of Enterprise Technology Services is removed from the process, and the pilot project is set to begin in 2525.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed significantly from a statewide mandate for all government agencies to a specific pilot program limited only to counties with populations between 100,000 and 175,000.

SCOPE

Electronic notice authorization was restricted to a pilot project for counties with populations between 100,000 and 175,000, removing it from all other jurisdictions.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for the Office of Enterprise Technology Services to adopt rules and consult with the Access Hawaii Committee was removed.

A new requirement was added for participating county clerks to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the legislature within one year of the pilot's start.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the electronic notice provisions was changed from July 1, 3000, to January 1, 2525.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'government agency' was replaced with a new definition for 'county agency' to align with the narrower scope of the pilot project.

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

Apr 21, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to LAB, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 31

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 716).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Gedeon voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu voting no (4) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Cochran.

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1316-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Reyes Oda.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to LAB, JHA, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 89) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:57AM; 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 GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2628) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-26 3:01PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to GVO, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor