SB 603 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO VETERANS.

Summary

Establishes provisions governing any person who receives compensation for advising, assisting, or consulting another person with veterans benefits. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB603 → SB603_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from an initial draft to a Senate committee version (SD1), which includes significant substantive changes to the bill's purpose, scope, and effective date. The purpose was expanded to explicitly acknowledge the risk of exploitation by unregulated advisors. The scope was narrowed to exempt agents regulated by the federal government, and a new provision was added to protect existing contracts. Most notably, the effective date was changed from immediate approval to July 1, 2077, a future date likely intended as a placeholder for the next legislative session.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by adding an exemption for agents accredited and regulated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and a new section was added to ensure the law does not impair existing contracts.

PURPOSE

The legislative purpose was expanded to explicitly state the necessity of protecting veterans from misleading or unfair practices and potential exploitation.

EXEMPTIONS

A new section was added to clarify that the Act does not apply to or limit the requirements for agents already accredited and regulated by the federal government.

PROTECTION

A new provision was added to prevent the Act from impairing any contracts existing as of the effective date.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from 'upon approval' to 'July 1, 2077', indicating a delay in implementation likely due to the bill being carried forward to a future session.

TECHNICAL

Various metadata fields, including bill numbers, revision numbers, and timestamps, were updated to reflect the new Senate version.

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

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 82) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/JDC.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Fukunaga, Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 01-29-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to PSM, CPN/JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 1 co-sponsor