SB 721 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE ESTATE TAX.

Summary

Amends the exclusion amount of Hawaii's estate tax. Repeals exemption for tax imposed on transfer of taxable estate located in Hawaii for nonresidents and nonresidents who are not citizens. Applicable to decedents dying or taxable transfers occurring after 12/31/2024. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 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

SB721 → SB721_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the estate tax legislation to repeal exemptions for nonresidents and non-citizens, ensuring they pay taxes on property located in Hawaii. The most significant change is the effective date, which was moved from January 1, 2026, to July 1, 2050, delaying the enforcement of these new tax rules by nearly three decades. The bill also includes minor administrative updates to the bill's metadata and formatting.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on estate taxation, but the applicability of the new rules regarding nonresidents and non-citizens is delayed until 2050.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the new estate tax provisions was changed from January 1, 2026, to July 1, 2050.

SCOPE

The bill explicitly repeals exemptions that previously allowed nonresidents and non-citizens to avoid estate taxes on property located in Hawaii.

TECHNICAL

Administrative metadata, including author names, revision numbers, and template references, were updated to reflect the latest 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 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to FIN, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 29) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Feb 12, 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 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-12-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors