SB 2861HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii plans a family support pilot and permits later TANF spending

Hawaii’s Office of Wellness and Resilience must plan a family support pilot, while the Department of Human Services may use TANF funds for it beginning July 1, 2028.

What it does

The Office of Wellness and Resilience must plan a pilot to support families and children in need, with services such as child wellness visits, food boxes, and counseling. The law requires a plan, not that the pilot begin.

The Department of Human Services may use TANF funds for the pilot starting in 2028, including $130,000 a year for an outside evaluation. The law does not require the department to spend the funds.

Argument forIf the pilot is established and funded, families and children in need could get food, counseling, child wellness visits, and other support.

Argument againstUsing TANF funds for the pilot could leave less money for other direct help to families who qualify for the program.

More detail

The Office of Wellness and Resilience must plan a pilot to support families and children. The plan covers families and children in need, including eligible families and children at risk of neglect. The plan must include services such as child wellness visits, food boxes, counseling, and trauma-informed care. It may include families who qualify for TANF and other families approved under standards that follow federal requirements. The law requires a plan, but does not itself establish that the pilot will operate. The Office must send a preliminary report to the Legislature at least 20 days before the 2027 regular session and a final report by June 30, 2027. The planning period ends June 30, 2027.

Beginning July 1, 2028, the Department of Human Services may spend TANF funds on the pilot. The authorization applies to the Department of Human Services and TANF funds. The authorized spending may include $130,000 per year for an outside evaluator to collect data and assess whether the pilot meets at least one purpose of the TANF program. Any part of the law that conflicts with federal requirements for state funding is inoperative to the extent of that conflict. The spending authorization begins July 1, 2028.

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 23
Passed SenateMar 5
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJul 7

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 7Act 200, 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1302).Latest
2. Jul 7Act 200, on 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1302).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none).Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
  - 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; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia voting no (2) and Representative(s) Alcos excused (1).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 883).Minor
  - 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 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) San Buenaventura, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
10. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Hartsfield, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
11. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 199-26).
12. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
13. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 199-26) as amended in (CD 1).
14. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
15. Apr 30House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Hartsfield Co-Chairs; Alcos.
16. Apr 30Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 05-01-26 2:35PM in conference room 329.
17. Apr 27Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Kanuha Co-Chair; Fevella.
18. Apr 27Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 779).Minor
19. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 709).Minor
20. Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
21. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
22. Apr 14Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
23. Apr 10Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2094-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
24. Apr 10Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
25. Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
26. Apr 2Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
27. Mar 30Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1507-26) 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
28. Mar 30Passed 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).Minor
29. Mar 24The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
30. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 03-24-26 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
31. Mar 10Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 15Minor
32. Mar 6Pass First ReadingMinor
33. Mar 5Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
34. Mar 5Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 28) in amended form (SD 2).Minor
35. Feb 25Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2717) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
36. Feb 2548 Hrs. Notice 03-05-26.
37. Feb 19The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Richards.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
38. Feb 13The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
39. Feb 11Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2194) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
40. Feb 11Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
41. Feb 2The 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
42. Jan 30Referred to HHS, WAM.Minor
43. Jan 30The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-02-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
44. Jan 26Passed First Reading.Minor
45. Jan 23Introduced.Introduced

HealthcareMental Health

Issue with this bill?

SB 2861HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii plans a family support pilot and permits later TANF spending

Hawaii’s Office of Wellness and Resilience must plan a family support pilot, while the Department of Human Services may use TANF funds for it beginning July 1, 2028.

What it does

The Department of Human Services may use TANF funds for the pilot starting in 2028, including $130,000 a year for an outside evaluation. The law does not require the department to spend the funds.

Argument forIf the pilot is established and funded, families and children in need could get food, counseling, child wellness visits, and other support.

Argument againstUsing TANF funds for the pilot could leave less money for other direct help to families who qualify for the program.

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 23
Passed SenateMar 5
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJul 7

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 7Act 200, 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1302).Latest
2. Jul 7Act 200, on 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1302).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none).Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
  - 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; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia voting no (2) and Representative(s) Alcos excused (1).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 883).Minor
  - 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 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) San Buenaventura, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
10. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Hartsfield, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
11. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 199-26).
12. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
13. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 199-26) as amended in (CD 1).
14. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
15. Apr 30House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Hartsfield Co-Chairs; Alcos.
16. Apr 30Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 05-01-26 2:35PM in conference room 329.
17. Apr 27Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Kanuha Co-Chair; Fevella.
18. Apr 27Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 779).Minor
19. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 709).Minor
20. Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
21. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
22. Apr 14Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
23. Apr 10Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2094-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
24. Apr 10Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
25. Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
26. Apr 2Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
27. Mar 30Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1507-26) 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
28. Mar 30Passed 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).Minor
29. Mar 24The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
30. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 03-24-26 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
31. Mar 10Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 15Minor
32. Mar 6Pass First ReadingMinor
33. Mar 5Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
34. Mar 5Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 28) in amended form (SD 2).Minor
35. Feb 25Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2717) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
36. Feb 2548 Hrs. Notice 03-05-26.
37. Feb 19The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Richards.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
38. Feb 13The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
39. Feb 11Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2194) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
40. Feb 11Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
41. Feb 2The 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
42. Jan 30Referred to HHS, WAM.Minor
43. Jan 30The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-02-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
44. Jan 26Passed First Reading.Minor
45. Jan 23Introduced.Introduced

HealthcareMental Health

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