HB 1661HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii public employee plans set annual spending limits

Starting July 1, 2027, chief executives set yearly contribution and carryover limits for public employee flexible spending plans using the maximums allowed under federal tax law.

What it does

Hawaii public employee flexible spending plans set annual maximums for contributions and carryover based on the limits allowed under federal tax law.

Argument forAnnual updates could let employees contribute or carry over more when federal limits rise.

Argument againstIf federal limits fall, employees could have less room to contribute or carry over money in these plans.

More detail

Each chief executive must set maximum contributions and carryover amounts for these plans annually. This applies to flexible spending account plans established under the public employee benefit program in section 78-30. The amounts must follow the maximums allowed under federal tax law as it applies in Hawaii under chapter 235. The law takes effect July 1, 2027.

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Where it stands

IntroducedJan 20
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 10
To Governor
Became LawJun 26

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 26Act 144, 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1245).Latest
2. Jun 26Act 144, on 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1245).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 will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 12:00PM in 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
9. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Kapela; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Reyes Oda.Minor
10. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Kim; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
11. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 146-26) as amended in (CD 1).
12. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
13. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 146-26).
14. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
15. Apr 29Senate Conferees Appointed: Elefante Chair; Kim Co-Chair; Fevella.
16. Apr 29Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 791).Minor
17. Apr 29Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 05-01-26 8:45AM in conference room 016.
18. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Sayama, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Kapela, Reyes Oda.
19. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
20. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).Minor
21. Apr 14House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
22. 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
23. Apr 10Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 523) in amended form (SD 1).
24. Apr 9Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3641) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
25. Apr 9One Day Notice 04-10-26.
26. 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
27. Apr 1The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-06-26 10:32AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
28. Mar 23Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3121) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
29. Mar 23Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
30. Mar 16The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Ihara, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
31. Mar 12The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
32. Mar 10Referred to LBT, WAM.Minor
33. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 34).Minor
34. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
35. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 794-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
36. 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
37. Feb 26The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
38. Feb 24Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-26-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
39. Feb 17Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 276-26) 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
40. Feb 17Passed 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, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3).Minor
41. Feb 10The 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
42. Feb 5Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 02-10-26 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
43. Jan 26Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 1Minor
44. Jan 21Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
45. Jan 20Prefiled.Introduced

Economy & Jobs

Issue with this bill?

HB 1661HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii public employee plans set annual spending limits

Starting July 1, 2027, chief executives set yearly contribution and carryover limits for public employee flexible spending plans using the maximums allowed under federal tax law.

What it does

Hawaii public employee flexible spending plans set annual maximums for contributions and carryover based on the limits allowed under federal tax law.

Argument forAnnual updates could let employees contribute or carry over more when federal limits rise.

Argument againstIf federal limits fall, employees could have less room to contribute or carry over money in these plans.

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 20
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 10
To Governor
Became LawJun 26

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 26Act 144, 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1245).Latest
2. Jun 26Act 144, on 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1245).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 will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 12:00PM in 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
9. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Kapela; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Reyes Oda.Minor
10. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Kim; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
11. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 146-26) as amended in (CD 1).
12. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
13. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 146-26).
14. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
15. Apr 29Senate Conferees Appointed: Elefante Chair; Kim Co-Chair; Fevella.
16. Apr 29Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 791).Minor
17. Apr 29Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 05-01-26 8:45AM in conference room 016.
18. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Sayama, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Kapela, Reyes Oda.
19. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
20. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).Minor
21. Apr 14House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
22. 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
23. Apr 10Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 523) in amended form (SD 1).
24. Apr 9Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3641) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
25. Apr 9One Day Notice 04-10-26.
26. 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
27. Apr 1The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-06-26 10:32AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
28. Mar 23Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3121) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
29. Mar 23Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
30. Mar 16The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Ihara, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
31. Mar 12The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
32. Mar 10Referred to LBT, WAM.Minor
33. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 34).Minor
34. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
35. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 794-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
36. 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
37. Feb 26The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
38. Feb 24Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-26-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
39. Feb 17Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 276-26) 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
40. Feb 17Passed 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, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3).Minor
41. Feb 10The 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
42. Feb 5Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 02-10-26 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
43. Jan 26Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 1Minor
44. Jan 21Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
45. Jan 20Prefiled.Introduced

Economy & Jobs

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