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SB2109Introduced in the Senate

Relating To Emergency Preparedness Communications.

Engrossed

Introduced by Mike Gabbard, District 21

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop and implement a statewide public education and communications program to promote household emergency preparedness consistent with the Agency's 14-day essential supplies recommendation. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide an American Sign Language interpreter during each official live broadcast during a state of emergency. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the American Sign Language interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are visible during the broadcast. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide a primary pool feed that includes the American Sign Language interpreter in a pictureinpicture window. Requires reports to the Legislature prior to the Regular Sessions of 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Where it stands

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:51 PM; Conference Room 016.

May 1, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

SenateStage: Senate Ways and Means: Passed, With Amendments · March 3, 2026

12

Yes

0

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

13 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Lorraine Inouye1Yes
Dru Kanuha3Yes
Tim Richards4Yes
Troy Hashimoto5Yes
Lynn Decoite7Yes
Sharon Moriwaki12Yes
Donna Kim14Yes
Glenn Wakai15Yes
Brandon Elefante16Yes
Donovan Cruz17Yes

Bill history

  1. Pending Introduction.

  2. Introduced and passed First Reading.

  3. Referred to PSM, WAM.

  4. The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  5. The committee on PSM deferred the measure.

  6. The committee(s) on PSM will hold a public decision making on 02-11-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  7. The committee on PSM has deleted the measure from decision making scheduled on 02-11-26 3:00PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

  8. The committee(s) on PSM will hold a public decision making on 02-18-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  9. The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto, Inouye, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  10. Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2642) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

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

  12. The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:17AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

  13. The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

  14. Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2944) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).

  15. 48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.

  16. 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.

  17. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 172) in amended form (SD 2).

  18. Pass First Reading

  19. Referred to PBS, FIN, referral sheet 17

  20. Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 03-20-26 10:30AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  21. The committee(s) on PBS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-25-26 11:00AM.

  22. Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 03-25-26 11:00AM in conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  23. The committee(s) on PBS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-27-26 11:00AM.

  24. Bill scheduled for decision making on Friday, 03-27-26 11:00AM in conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  25. The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe.

  26. Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1562-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

  27. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).

  28. Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  29. The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

  30. Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2102-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.

  31. Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

  32. Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 625).

  33. Senate disagrees with House amendments.

  34. Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).

  35. Senate Conferees Appointed: Fukunaga Chair; Lee, C. Co-Chairs; Inouye, DeCorte.

  36. Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718).

  37. House Conferees Appointed: Belatti, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Iwamoto, Templo, Shimizu.

  38. Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 877).

  39. Conference committee meeting scheduled for 05-01-26 1:45PM; Conference Room 016.

  40. Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 3:30 PM; Conference Room 016.

  41. Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 4:30 PM; Conference Room 016.

  42. Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:10 PM; Conference Room 016.

  43. Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:40 PM; Conference Room 016.

  44. Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:51 PM; Conference Room 016.

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