Hawaii bills · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii SB 716
RELATING TO HAWAII EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- AQUINO
- CHANG (Democratic)
- FEVELLA (Republican)
- KIDANI
- MCKELVEY (Democratic)
- MORIWAKI (Democratic)
- RHOADS (Democratic)
- SAN BUENAVENTURA (Democratic)
Cosponsors (2)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Hawaii legislature· description
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)
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 8:07 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2025 House | The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. | pass | Set your home in Hawaii to see |
| Mar 4, 2025 Senate | Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). | pass | Set your home in Hawaii to see |
| Feb 19, 2025 Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. | pass | Set your home in Hawaii to see |
| Feb 19, 2025 Senate | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. | pass | Set your home in Hawaii to see |
| Jan 29, 2025 Senate | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. | pass | Set your home in Hawaii to see |
Actions
- Jan 17, 2025 · Senate
Introduced. - Jan 21, 2025 · Senate
Passed First Reading. - Jan 23, 2025 · Senate
Referred to LBT, WAM/JDC. - Jan 24, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 01-29-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. - Jan 29, 2025 · Senate
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. - Feb 6, 2025 · Senate
Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 51) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC. - Feb 6, 2025 · Senate
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM/JDC. - Feb 14, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:16AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. - Feb 19, 2025 · Senate
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 19, 2025 · Senate
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. - Feb 28, 2025 · Senate
Reported from WAM/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 842) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). - Feb 28, 2025 · Senate
48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. - Mar 4, 2025 · Senate
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. - Mar 4, 2025 · House
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 185) in amended form (SD 2). - Mar 6, 2025 · House
Pass First Reading - Mar 6, 2025 · House
Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 19 - Mar 10, 2025 · House
Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Thursday, 03-13-25 9:00AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. - Mar 13, 2025 · House
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. - Mar 18, 2025 · House
Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1324) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. - Mar 18, 2025 · House
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Muraoka voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). - Dec 8, 2025 · Legislature
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.