HB1529 • 2026

RELATING TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

Elections

Active

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

Sponsor: GARRETT
Last action: 2026-01-26
Official status: Referred to JHA, referral sheet 1
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on which boards and commissions are affected or how the changes will impact their operations.

Rules for State Boards and Commissions

This bill changes the rules about how many members need to be present and agree to make decisions in state boards and commissions.

What This Bill Does

Changes the number of board or commission members needed to have a meeting (quorum) from what was previously set to half plus one of all voting members.
Requires only half plus one of the people at the meeting with quorum to agree on decisions, instead of needing more votes as before.

Who It Names or Affects

State boards and commissions in Hawaii
Members of these boards and commissions

Terms To Know

quorum: The minimum number of people needed to be present at a meeting for the group to make decisions.
affirmative votes: Votes in favor of something, used here to decide if an action by a board or commission is valid.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify which boards and commissions are affected.
It's unclear how this change will affect the operations of specific boards and commissions.

Bill History

2026-01-26 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-14 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
Public Agency Meetings and Records; Boards and Commissions; Quorum; Number of Votes Necessary to Validate Acts
Reduces the quorum requirement for boards and commissions to a majority of current voting members of a board or commission. Reduces the number of affirmative votes needed to validate action of a board or commission to a majority of members voting at a meeting with quorum.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1529

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1529

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 92-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

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"
[
[
]
�92-15[
]
]
�
Boards and commissions; quorum; number of
votes necessary to validate acts.
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Whenever the number of members necessary to constitute a quorum to do
business, or the number of members necessary to validate any act, of any board
or commission of the State or of any political subdivision thereof, is not
specified in the law or ordinance creating the same or in any other law or
ordinance, a majority of all the
current voting
members [
to which
]

of
the board or commission [
is entitled
] shall constitute a
quorum to do business, and the concurrence of a majority of [
all
] the members

voting at a meeting for which a quorum is present
[
to which the board
or commission is entitled
] shall be necessary to make any action of the
board or commission valid; provided that due notice shall have been given to
all members of the board or commission or a bona fide attempt shall have been
made to give the notice to all members to whom it was reasonably practicable to
give the notice.
�
This section shall not
invalidate any act of any board or commission performed prior to April 20,
1937, which, under the general law then in effect, would otherwise be valid."

����
SECTION 2.
�
This Act does not affect rights and duties
that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun
before its effective date.

����
SECTION 3.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Public Agency Meetings and Records; Boards and
Commissions; Quorum; Number of Votes Necessary to Validate Acts

Description:

Reduces
the quorum requirement for boards and commissions to a majority of current voting
members of a board or commission.
�
Reduces
the number of affirmative votes needed to validate action of a board or
commission to a majority of members voting at a meeting with quorum.

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