SB 608 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO VETERANS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS.

SB 608 regulates paid advisors who provide assistance with veterans' benefits applications or appeals. It directly affects veterans who hire such advisors, as well as the advisors themselves, by requiring them to meet specific standards when charging for their services. The bill establishes rules for how these advisors can operate, including transparency requirements and restrictions on certain fees. This aims to protect veterans from unscrupulous practices while ensuring they receive accurate guidance on accessing their benefits. The law takes effect on July 1, 2077.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Mar 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB608_SD1 → SB608_SD2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the regulation of veterans benefits assistance by changing the legislative session designation from SD1 to SD2 and modernizing the effective date to July 1, 2077. The core policy change involves shifting the legal standard for defining a 'veterans benefits matter' from specific actions like 'preparation' to a broader scope covering 'any claim.' Additionally, the bill restructures fee regulations to mandate written agreements, limit contingent fees to five times the monthly benefit increase or $12,500, and prohibit initial fees.

Scope change

The definition of 'veterans benefits matter' was broadened from specific actions (preparation, presentation, prosecution) to include 'any claim' affecting an individual eligible for benefits, thereby expanding the scope of regulated activities.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'veterans benefits matter' was expanded to cover 'any claim' rather than just specific actions like preparation or prosecution.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements mandate that compensation agreements must be in writing before services are rendered.

Compensation is now limited to being contingent on a benefit increase, capped at five times the monthly increase or $12,500, whichever is less.

A new prohibition was added banning the charging of any initial fees.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was updated to July 1, 2077.

TECHNICAL

The bill's session designation was updated from SD1 to SD2, and several metadata fields including dates and page numbers were adjusted.

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 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1265-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to PBS, CPC, JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 138) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao, McKelvey.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN/JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

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. 83) 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: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Fukunaga, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; 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

4 primary · 3 co-sponsors