SB 2970 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.

Summary

Repeals the $10,000 value threshold for certain prohibited contracts involving legislators or employees. Prohibits state agencies from contracting to procure or dispose of goods or services, or for construction, with businesses owned, operated, or controlled by relatives or household members of department heads or deputy directors. Requires department heads, acting department heads, and deputy directors of principal state departments to ensure compliance with the Code of Ethics provision governing contracts and provides for liability for violations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2970_HD1 → SB2970_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Code of Ethics to prohibit state agencies from contracting with businesses owned or controlled by relatives or household members of directors or deputy directors in principal state departments. It removes the previous $10,000 spending threshold for contracts involving legislators or employees and clarifies that directors and their deputies are personally responsible for ensuring compliance. The effective date is set to January 1, 2525.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of prohibited conflicts of interest by removing the monetary threshold for certain contracts and explicitly extending the ban to businesses controlled by relatives or household members of department directors and deputy directors, rather than just department heads.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the $10,000 value threshold for contracts involving legislators or employees, making the prohibition apply regardless of contract size.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new prohibition preventing contracts with businesses owned or operated by, or where a controlling interest is held by, relatives or household members of directors or deputy directors.

DEFINITION

Changed the term 'department head' to 'director' and updated the list of relatives to include specific Hawaiian hanai family connections.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated liability provisions to hold directors and deputy directors responsible for violations, replacing the previous 'department head' terminology.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 3000 to January 1, 2525.

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

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1404-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 328) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2527) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 10, 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, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor