SB 3137 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S AUTHORITY TO REGULATE FOOD, DRUGS, AND COSMETICS.

Summary
Removes duplicative food-related statutory material and aligns all food-related provisions under chapter 328, HRS. Ensures adequate statutory authority for permits, fees, inspections, and enforcement. On 6/30/2027, repeals the Sanitation and Environmental Health Special Fund and transfers any unexpended or unencumbered balance to the newly established Food Safety and Environmental Health Special Fund. Makes conforming amendments. (CD1)
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
Jun 2026
Introduced Jan 26, 2026 Signed Jun 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB3137_HD2 SB3137_SD1 · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill consolidates food safety regulations from Chapter 321 into Chapter 328 to eliminate duplicate authority and streamline enforcement. It establishes a new special fund for food and environmental health programs, updates permit exemptions for specific producers like hand-pounded poi, and adjusts the effective date of the law.
Scope change
The bill shifts the primary regulatory authority for food, drugs, and cosmetics from Chapter 321 to Chapter 328, merging previously separate administrative structures.
FISCAL

Created a new 'food safety and environmental health special fund' to collect fees and finance program operations, replacing the previous 'sanitation and environmental health special fund'.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 3000, to 'upon approval', and adjusted the repeal date for the old fund to June 30, 2027.

ELIGIBILITY

Refined exemptions for hand-pounded poi producers and clarified permit requirements for homemade and non-time/temperature control food producers.

DEFINITION

Updated definitions of 'hospital' and 'nursing facility' in various sections to ensure consistency with current health care regulations.

TECHNICAL

Repealed multiple sections in Chapter 321 that are now redundant after the consolidation into Chapter 328.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
51
Key actions
18
Committee
18
Amendments
2
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
May 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 224-26) 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. 224-26).
upper
May 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Matayoshi, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; 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: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 4:30PM in conference room 329.
lower
Apr 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-30-26 4:30PM in conference room 329.
lower
Apr 20, 2026
Committee
Re-referred to HLT, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 30
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Amended
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Introduced
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 751).
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1347-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Committee
Referred to HLT, CPC, referral sheet 16
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Introduced
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 113) 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 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:55AM; 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 HHS/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2635) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
upper
Feb 18, 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, Lamosao, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-17-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Referred to HHS/CPN, WAM.
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Introduced
Introduced.
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Introduced
Pending Introduction.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ron Kouchi
Ron Kouchi
DDemocratic
HI
8