SB 716 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HAWAII EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.

Summary

Expands the circumstances where the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations may waive the requirements for individuals to register to work and report to an employment office to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Authorize the Department to allow individuals to report to a location other than an employment office or other location approved pursuant to its rules. Beginning 4/1/2027, requires notices of determinations and documentation relating to appeals to be sent electronically, unless the election for mail is made. Allows an individual to change an elected withholding status more than once during a benefit year. Amends the statutory definition of "registered for work" or "registration for work". Repeals the requirement for individuals to post their work availability online to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Repeals the statutory provision for joint experience rating. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB716_SD1 → SB716_SD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the Hawaii Employment Security Law to expand when individuals can be exempted from work registration requirements and to modernize how notices are sent. It also changes the effective date of key provisions from April 1, 2027, to July 1, 2050, and updates internal tracking numbers and author names.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on unemployment benefits administration, but the timeline for implementation has been significantly extended.

TIMELINE

The effective date for new electronic notice requirements and other changes was moved from April 1, 2027, to July 1, 2050.

REQUIREMENT

The bill expands the specific circumstances under which the Department of Labor can waive the requirement for individuals to register for work and report to an employment office.

TECHNICAL

Internal tracking numbers, bill dates, and author names were updated to reflect the new version of the bill.

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 18, 2025

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1324) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 185) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

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 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

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.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:16AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 51) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Lee, C., Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Moriwaki.

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 01-29-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to LBT, WAM/JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

8 primary · 2 co-sponsors