HB 2443HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii requires disaster planning to include people with disabilities

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency must include disability needs throughout its disaster work, with up to $100,000 for a full-time specialist for fiscal year 2026–2027.

What it does

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency must include disability and support needs before, during, and after disasters. Its duties include accessible communication and advice on shelter and evacuation access.

The law sets aside up to $100,000 in state money for one full-time disability specialist for fiscal year 2026–2027. The job is exempt from regular state employment rules.

Argument forAccessible messages and advice on shelter access could help people with disabilities receive emergency information and find shelters they can use.

Argument againstExempting the specialist from regular state employment rules could reduce the hiring safeguards that apply to other state jobs.

More detail

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency must include disability and support needs throughout its disaster work and follow disability access laws. These duties cover people with disabilities and others who need help accessing or using disaster services. They include accessible ways to communicate. The agency must advise on accessible shelters, evacuations, and disaster messages. It must support preparedness and response across all counties and work with disability advocates, service providers, and community members. These requirements took effect on July 1, 2026.

The law sets aside up to $100,000 from state general revenues for one full-time disability integration specialist within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. The money supports one full-time staff position, rather than direct payments to residents. The agency may spend only as much of the $100,000 as needed for the law’s purposes. The specialist serves as an emergency management specialist and is exempt from the state’s regular civil service employment rules. The law took effect on July 1, 2026. The funding applies to fiscal year 2026–2027.

Where do you stand?

Tell your reps

Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.

More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 27
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 10
To Governor
Became LawJun 24

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 24Act 133, 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1234).Latest
2. Jun 24Act 133, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1234).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. 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
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 3:30 PM; Conference Room 016.
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
9. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 4:30 PM; Conference Room 016.
10. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:10 PM; Conference Room 016.
11. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:40 PM; Conference Room 016.
12. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Morikawa, Templo, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Amato.Minor
13. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Inouye; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.Minor
14. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 170-26) as amended in (CD 1).
15. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
16. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 170-26).
17. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
18. Apr 30Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 1:45PM; Conference Room 016.
19. Apr 29Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 1:45PM; Conference Room 016.
20. Apr 27Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 1:45PM in conference room 016.
21. Apr 23House Conferees Appointed: Belatti, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Amato, Templo, Shimizu.
22. Apr 23Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 817).Minor
23. Apr 23Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 2:00PM in conference room 016.
24. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Fukunaga Chair; McKelvey, Lee, C. Co-Chairs; Inouye.
25. Apr 21Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 717).Minor
26. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).Minor
27. Apr 14House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
28. Apr 10Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. 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. Result: pass.Upper
29. Apr 10Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 559) in amended form (SD 1).
30. Apr 9Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3628) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
31. Apr 9One Day Notice 04-10-26.
32. Apr 6The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
33. Apr 1The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
34. Mar 30Reported from PSM/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3292) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
35. Mar 30The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
36. Mar 30Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
37. Mar 23The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
38. Mar 23The 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.Minor
39. Mar 17The committee(s) on PSM/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 2:45PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
40. Mar 10Referred to PSM/HHS, WAM.Minor
41. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 108).Minor
42. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
43. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 834-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
44. Mar 5Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
45. Feb 27The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M..Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
46. Feb 24Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Friday, 02-27-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
47. Feb 11Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 190-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
48. Feb 11Passed 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) Holt excused (1).Minor
49. Feb 6The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Souza.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
50. Feb 3Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 02-06-26 10:15AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
51. Feb 2Referred to PBS, FIN, referral sheet 6Minor
52. Jan 28Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
53. Jan 27Pending introduction.Introduced

Emergency ManagementDisability Rights

Issue with this bill?

HB 2443HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii requires disaster planning to include people with disabilities

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency must include disability needs throughout its disaster work, with up to $100,000 for a full-time specialist for fiscal year 2026–2027.

What it does

The law sets aside up to $100,000 in state money for one full-time disability specialist for fiscal year 2026–2027. The job is exempt from regular state employment rules.

Argument forAccessible messages and advice on shelter access could help people with disabilities receive emergency information and find shelters they can use.

Argument againstExempting the specialist from regular state employment rules could reduce the hiring safeguards that apply to other state jobs.

More detail

Where do you stand?

Tell your reps

Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.

More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 27
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 10
To Governor
Became LawJun 24

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 24Act 133, 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1234).Latest
2. Jun 24Act 133, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1234).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. 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
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 3:30 PM; Conference Room 016.
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
9. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 4:30 PM; Conference Room 016.
10. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:10 PM; Conference Room 016.
11. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:40 PM; Conference Room 016.
12. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Morikawa, Templo, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Amato.Minor
13. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Inouye; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.Minor
14. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 170-26) as amended in (CD 1).
15. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
16. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 170-26).
17. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
18. Apr 30Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 1:45PM; Conference Room 016.
19. Apr 29Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 1:45PM; Conference Room 016.
20. Apr 27Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 1:45PM in conference room 016.
21. Apr 23House Conferees Appointed: Belatti, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Amato, Templo, Shimizu.
22. Apr 23Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 817).Minor
23. Apr 23Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 2:00PM in conference room 016.
24. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Fukunaga Chair; McKelvey, Lee, C. Co-Chairs; Inouye.
25. Apr 21Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 717).Minor
26. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).Minor
27. Apr 14House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
28. Apr 10Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. 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. Result: pass.Upper
29. Apr 10Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 559) in amended form (SD 1).
30. Apr 9Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3628) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
31. Apr 9One Day Notice 04-10-26.
32. Apr 6The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
33. Apr 1The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
34. Mar 30Reported from PSM/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3292) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
35. Mar 30The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
36. Mar 30Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
37. Mar 23The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
38. Mar 23The 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.Minor
39. Mar 17The committee(s) on PSM/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 2:45PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
40. Mar 10Referred to PSM/HHS, WAM.Minor
41. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 108).Minor
42. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
43. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 834-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
44. Mar 5Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
45. Feb 27The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M..Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
46. Feb 24Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Friday, 02-27-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
47. Feb 11Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 190-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
48. Feb 11Passed 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) Holt excused (1).Minor
49. Feb 6The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Souza.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
50. Feb 3Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 02-06-26 10:15AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
51. Feb 2Referred to PBS, FIN, referral sheet 6Minor
52. Jan 28Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
53. Jan 27Pending introduction.Introduced

Emergency ManagementDisability Rights

Issue with this bill?

What it does

Where do you stand?

Choose your position

Tell your reps

More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History

What it does

Where do you stand?

Choose your position

Tell your reps

More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History