HawaiiHawaii funds state construction reviews in counties under 500,000 residents
Hawaii sets aside up to $3.034 million for a five-year construction review program and dedicated permit staff, with education projects joining by choice.
What it does
The program reviews designs and assigns inspectors and permit staff for Department of Accounting and General Services projects with estimated design values of at least $2 million in counties with fewer than 500,000 residents. The Department of Education may opt in for specific complex projects.
The law sets aside up to $3.034 million from Hawaii’s general revenues for the pilot program and six full-time positions, including three employees assigned to county agencies.
State agency review fees go into a separate fund that keeps unspent money during the pilot. Education operating and construction funds cannot support it.
Argument forDedicated permit reviewers could help covered state projects move faster because counties cannot assign those employees other work.
Argument againstReview fees could leave the Department of Accounting and General Services with less money for other project needs.
More detail
The state construction manager’s office provides centralized design reviews, assigns construction inspectors, and supplies dedicated county permit reviewers. The program covers work on state-owned land run by the Department of Accounting and General Services or participating Department of Education projects, with estimated design values of at least $2 million in counties with fewer than 500,000 residents. The Department of Education may opt in for specific complex projects and need not submit all its construction projects. Final plans must go to the Disability and Communication Access Board for accessibility review. Changes require another review. Assigned county permit reviewers handle only these state project permits. The five-year pilot program runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
The law sets aside up to $3,034,000 for the Department of Accounting and General Services to carry out the pilot program. The money comes from Hawaii’s general revenues and supports the program within the comptroller’s office. Funding supports one full-time construction manager and five other full-time positions, including three assigned to county agencies. The comptroller hires the manager without following chapter 76 of Hawaii law and sets the manager’s pay. The manager must have held a valid license under chapter 464 of Hawaii law for at least five years immediately before hiring and cannot privately practice construction management or manage a private business. The funding applies to fiscal year 2026–2027. The law took effect on July 1, 2026.
The comptroller manages a separate design review fund and sets review charges after consulting the construction manager. The fund pays for the program’s work. The construction manager’s office submits reports to the governor and legislature. The fund receives agency review fees, money set aside by lawmakers, and interest. Unspent money stays in the fund each year until after the pilot program ends. Education money for operating expenses or construction improvements cannot support this fund. Annual reports must describe reviewed projects, the fund’s finances, whether the program should continue, and other recommendations. Implementation rules are due by December 31, 2027. Reports are due at least 20 days before the regular legislative sessions of 2027 through 2031.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 24Act 135, 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1236).Latest
- Jun 24Act 135, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1236).Became Law
- May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
- May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
- May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Hartsfield, Kusch, Pierick voting no (4) and Representative(s) Alcos excused (1).Major
- May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
- May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 12:55 PM; Conference Room 016.
- Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 3:50 PM; Conference Room 329.
- May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Hashem, Lee, M., Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Wakai, Elefante, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 231-26).
- May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 231-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- Apr 30Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 10:20AM; Conference Room 016.
- Apr 29Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016.
- Apr 28Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 016.
- Apr 27Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 016.
- Apr 24Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 742).Minor
- Apr 24Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-27-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 016.
- Apr 23Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 811).Minor
- Apr 23Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Wakai, Elefante Co-Chairs; Awa.
- Apr 22House Conferees Appointed: Sayama, Hashem, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Matsumoto.
- Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 670).Minor
- Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
- Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
- Apr 14Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Iwamoto, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick voting no (2) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 10Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2061-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Apr 10Deferred one day 04-14-26.Minor
- Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield, Perruso, Alcos; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 2The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.Minor
- Apr 2Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 31Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 30Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1525-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
- Vote recorded Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 30Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
- Mar 24The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Poepoe, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Shimizu; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 20Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1255-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 20Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).Minor
- Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 03-24-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 19The 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.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 16Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Thursday, 03-19-26 9:35AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 12Pass First ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Referred to LAB, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 17Minor
- Mar 10Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 258) in amended form (SD 2).Minor
- Mar 5Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2786) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
- Mar 548 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
- Mar 2The 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, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-02-26 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
- Feb 23The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:55AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
- Feb 20Reported from GVO/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2593) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Feb 20Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
- Feb 10The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Hashimoto, Moriwaki, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, Richards, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.Minor
- Feb 3The committee(s) on GVO/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
- Jan 28Referred to GVO/EIG, WAM.Minor
- Jan 23Introduced.Minor
- Jan 23Passed First Reading.Introduced
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