Hawaii bills · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii SB 161
RELATING TO COUNTY PERMITTING AND INSPECTION.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- CHANG (Democratic)
- HASHIMOTO (Democratic)
- RICHARDS (Democratic)
- SAN BUENAVENTURA (Democratic)
Cosponsors (1)
- Kanuha (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Hawaii legislature· description
Allows state projects to be exempt from county building permit requirements under certain conditions. Requires all exempted state projects to be included in a report that is regularly made available to the public. Allows state agencies that undertake projects to be dedicated to a county to prepare programmatic or project-specific agreements that establish requirements and standards for review and acceptance if the agency wants the project to be exempted. Allows state agencies that want to be exempted from county permitting processes to establish a cooperative working group. Requires cooperative working groups to submit an interim report to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2026. Effective 5/13/2040. (SD1)
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 17, 2026, 8:12 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 4, 2025 Senate | The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. | pass | Set your home in Hawaii to see |
| Feb 4, 2025 Senate | The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. | pass | Set your home in Hawaii to see |
Actions
- Jan 13, 2025 · Senate
Pending Introduction. - Jan 15, 2025 · Senate
Introduced and passed First Reading. - Jan 17, 2025 · Senate
Referred to EIG/GVO, WAM. - Jan 27, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on EIG/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. - Jan 30, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on EIG deferred the measure until 02-04-25 3:00PM; CR 016. - Jan 30, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on GVO deferred the measure until 02-04-25 3:00PM; CR 225. - Feb 4, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. - Feb 4, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, San Buenaventura. - Feb 11, 2025 · Senate
Reported from EIG/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 220) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. - Feb 11, 2025 · Senate
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. - Dec 8, 2025 · Legislature
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.