HB1262 • 2026

RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY AND BUDGET RESERVE FUND.

Budget

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: HUSSEY, COCHRAN, IWAMOTO, PERRUSO
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the exact criteria for eligibility such as minimum payment amount and income limits.

Emergency Fund for Disaster Help

This bill allows money from the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund to be used as economic payments for residents affected by disasters declared as emergencies by the Governor.

What This Bill Does

Adds economic payments as an allowed use of the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund for certain residents who have incurred losses in a disaster declared as an emergency by the Governor.

Who It Names or Affects

Residents of Hawaii who suffer losses during disasters and meet eligibility criteria.
The state government managing the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund.

Terms To Know

Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund: A fund used by the state to address emergencies and budget needs.
State of Emergency: A declaration made by the Governor during a disaster or crisis, allowing special measures to be taken.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact income limit for eligibility.
It is unclear how much funding will be available in the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund for these payments.
The bill requires a two-thirds majority vote from each house of the legislature to pass.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-12 H
The committee(s) on PBS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 02-12-25 11:00AM in conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-07 H
The committee(s) on PBS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-12-25 at 11:00AM.
2025-02-04 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 02-07-25 9:30AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-27 H
Referred to PBS, FIN, referral sheet 4
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-22 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY AND BUDGET RESERVE FUND.
Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund; Economic Payments; Disaster; State of Emergency
Adds, as an allowable use of the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund, economic payments to certain residents who have incurred losses in a disaster for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1262

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1262

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the emergency and budget reserve fund
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 328L-3,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as
follows:

����
"(d)
�
The legislature may make appropriations from
the fund for the following purposes:

����
(1)
�
To maintain levels
of programs determined to be essential to public health, safety, welfare, and
education;

����
(2)
�
To provide for
counter cyclical economic and employment programs in periods of economic
downturn;

����
(3)
�
To restore
facilities destroyed or damaged or services disrupted by disaster in any
county; [
and
]

����
(4)
�
To provide
pre-determined economic payments in an amount equal to the lesser of:

���������
(A)
�
An
amount to be set by the governor; provided that the amount shall be no less
than $20,000; or

���������
(B)
�
The
state minimum wage per hour, established pursuant to section 387-2, multiplied
by 1,333 hours,

���������
to certain individuals who
are Hawaii residents that have an annual gross income below $
and who have lost their homes, jobs, food, clothing, or transportation in a
disaster for which the governor has declared a state of emergency; and

���
[
(4)
]

(5)
�
To meet other emergencies when declared by
the governor or determined to be urgent by the legislature.

����
Any act making appropriations from
the emergency and budget reserve fund shall include a declaration of findings
and purposes setting forth the purposes, the amounts, and the reasons why the
appropriations are necessary and shall require a two-thirds majority vote of
each house of the legislature."

����
SECTION 2.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Emergency
and Budget Reserve Fund; Economic Payments; Disaster; State of Emergency

Description:

Adds, as an allowable use of the Emergency and Budget
Reserve Fund, economic payments to certain residents who have incurred losses
in a disaster for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.