SB 659 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Summary

Exempts from the electronic procurement system the Department of Education's purchase of fresh local agricultural products and local value-added processed, agricultural, or food products not exceeding a certain amount, subject to certain requirements. Requires the Department of Education to establish guidelines for determining a geographic preference for locally sourced products. Exempts the Department of Education from the requirement that certain agricultural products are subject to the Hawaii Public Procurement Code. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB659_SD1 → SB659_SD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates procurement rules for the Department of Education, raising the spending threshold for purchasing fresh local agricultural products from $100,000 to $250,000. It introduces new requirements to obtain multiple written quotes for purchases between $25,000 and $250,000 and mandates that awards over $2,500 be posted online. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the Department of Education is exempt from requiring certain agricultural products to follow the general Hawaii Public Procurement Code.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of exempted agricultural products by increasing the monetary threshold and explicitly exempts the Department of Education from the general procurement code requirements for specific items like fresh meats and produce.

ELIGIBILITY

Increased the procurement spending threshold for fresh local agricultural products from $100,000 to $250,000.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement to obtain at least three written quotes for purchases between $25,000 and $250,000, with a possible reduction to two quotes for rural school supplies.

Mandated that all awards exceeding $2,500 must be posted electronically on the Hawaii awards and notice data system (HANDS).

Required the department to provide written justification if it cannot obtain the required number of quotes.

SCOPE

Explicitly exempted the Department of Education from the requirement that certain agricultural products be subject to the Hawaii Public Procurement Code.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2025

How they voted

13–0

Passed

Total votes 13

Feb 26, 2025

D Democratic12

12 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican1

1 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 21, 2025

House · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5).

Mar 21, 2025

House · Referred to committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1406), recommending referral to FIN.

Mar 19, 2025

House · Reported by committee

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

Mar 13, 2025

House · Referred to committee

Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1190) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to AGR.

Mar 11, 2025

House · Reported by committee

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Sayama, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Muraoka.

Mar 6, 2025

House · Referred to committee

Referred to EDN, AGR, FIN, referral sheet 19

Mar 4, 2025

House · Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 182) in amended form (SD 2).

Mar 4, 2025

Senate · Passed

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

Feb 26, 2025

Senate · Reported by committee

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

Feb 26, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (13-0)

Feb 20, 2025

Senate · Reported by committee

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

Feb 13, 2025

Senate · Passed

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

Feb 13, 2025

Senate · Referred to committee

Reported from EDU/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 434) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

Feb 10, 2025

Senate · Reported by committee

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Rhoads.

Feb 10, 2025

Senate · Reported by committee

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kidani, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 2 No(es): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto; and 0 Excused: none.

Feb 7, 2025

Senate · Reported by committee

The committee(s) on EDU/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

Jan 23, 2025

Senate · Referred to committee

Referred to EDU/AEN, WAM.

Jan 17, 2025

Senate · Introduced

Introduced.

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor