HB 2498HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii agency to help Oahu care homes prepare for disasters

Hawaii’s emergency management agency must run a temporary resilience pilot for licensed care homes in three Oahu ZIP codes, with up to $1 million set aside for fiscal year 2026–2027.

What it does

Hawaii’s emergency management agency must establish a resilience pilot for licensed care homes in three Oahu ZIP codes. If funds permit, the program may help facilities prepare for disasters, extreme heat, smoke, and power outages.

Covered care homes must make evacuation plans for residents and employees. When directing help, the pilot must prioritize facilities serving people with greater needs or facing greater risks.

The emergency management agency must report on homes helped, improvements, estimated risk reductions, and feedback, and recommend whether to extend or expand the pilot statewide.

Argument forIf funds are available, care homes may get help strengthening buildings, preparing for outages, and protecting residents who rely on medical equipment.

Argument againstCare homes may need to make evacuation plans even if limited funds mean some facilities receive little help preparing for emergencies.

More detail

Hawaii’s emergency management agency must establish the resilience pilot and may provide grants, rebates, contracted services, assessments, training, and other support. The pilot covers licensed care homes in ZIP codes 96797, 96792, and 96786 on Oahu, including several types of residential care homes and other licensed homes serving vulnerable people in those areas. The pilot may provide assistance as funds permit. The law sets aside up to $1 million for fiscal year 2026–2027, to be spent by the agency. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and is repealed June 30, 2029.

Each eligible care home must adopt an evacuation plan for residents and employees; the pilot must prioritize certain facilities for assistance. These provisions apply to care homes eligible for the pilot in ZIP codes 96797, 96792, and 96786 on Oahu. The pilot must prioritize homes serving low-income residents, kupuna, or people with disabilities; homes with residents who rely on life-sustaining medical equipment; homes in high-risk hazard zones; homes in buildings more than 25 years old; and homes showing financial need. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and is repealed June 30, 2029.

Hawaii’s emergency management agency must report to the Legislature on the pilot and possible statewide expansion. The report covers care homes assisted, completed assessments and improvements, estimated risk reductions, stakeholder feedback, and recommendations on statewide expansion, including proposed legislation. The report is due no later than 20 days before the 2027 regular legislative session convenes.

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More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 28
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 10
To Governor
Became LawJun 26

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 26Act 146, 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1247).Latest
2. Jun 26Act 146, on 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1247).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, Olds, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Marten.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 0 Excused: none.Minor
14. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 169-26) 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. 169-26).
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 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 1:45PM in conference room 016.
21. Apr 27Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 1:50PM in conference room 016.
22. Apr 24Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 741).Minor
23. Apr 23Senate Conferees Appointed: Fukunaga Chair; Lee, C. Co-Chairs; Inouye.
24. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Belatti, Marten, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Olds, Souza.
25. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).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. 560) in amended form (SD 1).
30. Apr 9Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3627) 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 (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3231) 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 PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
38. Mar 20The committee(s) on PSM deferred the measure until 03-23-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.Minor
39. Mar 16The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 3:15PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
40. Mar 10Referred to PSM, WAM.Minor
41. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 113).Minor
42. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
43. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 833-26), 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 19Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 521-26) 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
48. Feb 19Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Minor
49. Feb 17The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hartsfield.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
50. Feb 12Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
51. Feb 11Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 198-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HSH.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HSH. Result: pass.Lower
52. Feb 11Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HSH with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Holt excused (1).Minor
53. Feb 6The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
54. Feb 3Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 02-06-26 10:15AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
55. Feb 2Referred to PBS, HSH, FIN, referral sheet 6Minor
56. Jan 28Introduced and Pass First Reading.Introduced

Emergency ManagementHealthcareDisability Rights

Issue with this bill?

HB 2498HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii agency to help Oahu care homes prepare for disasters

Hawaii’s emergency management agency must run a temporary resilience pilot for licensed care homes in three Oahu ZIP codes, with up to $1 million set aside for fiscal year 2026–2027.

What it does

Covered care homes must make evacuation plans for residents and employees. When directing help, the pilot must prioritize facilities serving people with greater needs or facing greater risks.

The emergency management agency must report on homes helped, improvements, estimated risk reductions, and feedback, and recommend whether to extend or expand the pilot statewide.

Argument forIf funds are available, care homes may get help strengthening buildings, preparing for outages, and protecting residents who rely on medical equipment.

Argument againstCare homes may need to make evacuation plans even if limited funds mean some facilities receive little help preparing for emergencies.

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 28
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 10
To Governor
Became LawJun 26

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 26Act 146, 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1247).Latest
2. Jun 26Act 146, on 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1247).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, Olds, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Marten.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 0 Excused: none.Minor
14. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 169-26) 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. 169-26).
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 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 1:45PM in conference room 016.
21. Apr 27Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 1:50PM in conference room 016.
22. Apr 24Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 741).Minor
23. Apr 23Senate Conferees Appointed: Fukunaga Chair; Lee, C. Co-Chairs; Inouye.
24. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Belatti, Marten, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Olds, Souza.
25. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).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. 560) in amended form (SD 1).
30. Apr 9Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3627) 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 (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3231) 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 PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
38. Mar 20The committee(s) on PSM deferred the measure until 03-23-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.Minor
39. Mar 16The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 3:15PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
40. Mar 10Referred to PSM, WAM.Minor
41. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 113).Minor
42. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
43. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 833-26), 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 19Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 521-26) 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
48. Feb 19Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Minor
49. Feb 17The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hartsfield.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
50. Feb 12Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
51. Feb 11Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 198-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HSH.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HSH. Result: pass.Lower
52. Feb 11Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HSH with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Holt excused (1).Minor
53. Feb 6The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
54. Feb 3Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 02-06-26 10:15AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
55. Feb 2Referred to PBS, HSH, FIN, referral sheet 6Minor
56. Jan 28Introduced and Pass First Reading.Introduced

Emergency ManagementHealthcareDisability 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