RELATING TO LICENSING.

Taxes

Active

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

Sponsor: SAYAMA, ILAGAN, KUSCH, LEE, M., MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, OLDS, TAKAYAMA
Last action: 2026-02-20
Official status: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Matsumoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (5) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's effective date of July 1, 3000, appears to be a placeholder and may need updating.

Changes to Licensing Requirements

This bill removes the requirement that applicants for professional or vocational licenses must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or authorized to work in the United States and allows them to use an individual tax identification number instead of a social security number.

What This Bill Does

Removes the need for licensing applicants to prove they are U.S. citizens, nationals, or authorized to work in the United States.
Allows applicants without a Social Security Number (SSN) to provide an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead when applying for licenses.

Who It Names or Affects

People who apply for professional or vocational licenses in Hawaii.
The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) that handles licensing applications.

Terms To Know

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN): A tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service to individuals who have a U.S. filing or payment requirement and need to file a federal income tax return but do not have, and are not eligible for, an SSN.
Social Security Number (SSN): A nine-digit number issued by the Social Security Administration that uniquely identifies each individual who has a U.S. social security account or who applies for one.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if an applicant cannot provide either an ITIN or SSN.
It is unclear how this change will affect the overall number of license applications processed by DCCA.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 3000, which seems to be a placeholder date and may need to be updated.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment allows individuals without a social security number to apply for professional or vocational licenses in Hawaii by providing an individual taxpayer identification number along with a sworn affidavit.

Removes the requirement that applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or have work visas to obtain a license.
Allows applicants who do not have a social security number to provide an individual taxpayer identification number and a sworn affidavit instead.
Requires applicants without a social security number to prove they are not violating employment laws and show proof of continued residence in Hawaii.

The amendment text does not specify the exact process for obtaining an individual taxpayer identification number or how the licensing authority will verify it.
It is unclear what happens if an applicant cannot provide a sworn affidavit stating they do not have a social security number.

Bill History

2026-02-20 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Matsumoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (5) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 677-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-02-10 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Pierick; and Excused: none.
2026-02-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 02-10-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to CPC, JHA, referral sheet 2
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO LICENSING.
DCCA; Professional or Vocational Licensing; Citizenship; Individual Tax Identification Numbers
Removes the barrier that requires applicants for professional or vocational licensing to be United States citizens, United States nationals, or persons with work visas. Allows an applicant to provide the applicant's individual tax identification number with a sworn affidavit in lieu of social security numbers when the applicant does not have a social security number. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1849

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1849

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to licensing
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The purpose of this Act is to allow a
person to provide an individual taxpayer identification number in lieu of a
social security number in the person's application for a professional or
vocational license within the department of commerce and consumer affairs,
given that the person satisfies all other requirements to be licensed, is not
violating any laws regarding employment, and can show proof of continued
residence in the State.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 436B-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�436B-10
�

Application and requirements for licensure.
�
(a)
�

Application for a license shall be made on an application form to be
furnished by the licensing authority.
�
An
applicant shall provide the following information on the application form:

����
(1)
�
The applicant's legal name;

����
(2)
�
Affirmation that the applicant is beyond the
age of majority;

����
(3)
�
The applicant's current residence, business
and mailing addresses, and phone numbers;

����
(4)
�
The applicant's social security number
or
individual taxpayer identification number
if the licensing authority is
authorized by federal law to require the disclosure;

����
(5)
�
The date and place of any conviction of a
penal crime directly related to the profession or vocation in which the
applicant is applying for licensure, unless the conviction has been expunged or
annulled, or is otherwise precluded from consideration by section 831-3.1;

���
[
(6)
�
Proof that the applicant is a United States
citizen, a United States national, or an alien authorized to work in the United
States;

����
(7)
]

(6)
�

Disclosure of similar licensure in any state or territory;

���
[
(8)
]

(7)
�

Disclosure of disciplinary action by any state or territory against any
license held by the applicant; and

���
[
(9)
]

(8)
�

Any other information the licensing authority may require to investigate
the applicant's qualifications for licensure.

Failure to provide the above information and pay the
required fees shall be grounds to deny the application for licensure.

����
(b)
�
In addition to any other requirements
provided by law, all applicants shall [
be
]:

����
(1)
�
[
Beyond
]
Be beyond
the age of
majority; [
and
]

����
(2)
�
[
A United States citizen, a United States
national, or an alien authorized to work in the United States.
]
Provide
a social security number or individual taxpayer identification number;

����
(3)
�
Prove continued physical residence in the
State; and

����
(4)
�
Satisfy all other requirements to be
licensed.
"

����
SECTION
3
.
�
Section 467-9.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

����
"
(a)
�
No
individual shall be eligible for the licensing examination unless the
individual:

����
(1)
�
Is [
a United States citizen, a United
States national, or an alien authorized to work in the United States;
]
able
to provide a social security number or individual taxpayer identification
number;

����
(2)
�
Is of the age of majority;

����
(3)
�
Has earned a high school diploma or its
equivalent; and

����
(4)
�
Is applying for:

���������
(A)
�
The real estate salesperson examination and
has satisfactorily completed a commission-approved prelicensing course for real
estate salesperson candidates, which includes real estate principles, or its
equivalent as determined by the commission; or

���������
(B)
�
The real estate broker examination and:

�������������
(i)
�
Holds a current, unencumbered Hawaii real
estate salesperson license or a current, unencumbered real estate salesperson
or broker license in another state or in a jurisdiction recognized by the
Association of Real Estate License Law Officials, with an equivalent real
estate licensing law as determined by the commission;

������������
(ii)
�
Has satisfactorily completed a
commission-approved prelicensing course for real estate broker candidates, or
its equivalent as determined by the commission; and

�����������
(iii)
�
Has experience as a full-time Hawaii-licensed
real estate salesperson associated with a Hawaii-licensed real estate broker
for at least three years of the five-year period immediately prior to the
submission of the experience certification application and has practical real
estate salesperson experience, as certified by the principal broker, principal
brokers, broker in charge, or brokers in charge, as the case may be, during the
subject period.
�
The candidate shall
secure commission approval of the candidate's experience certification
application prior to the date of the examination.
�
Subject to commission approval, a candidate
may request a determination of equivalency for the experience requirement based
on real estate salesperson license experience or a current, unencumbered real
estate broker license in another state, or in a jurisdiction recognized by the
Association of Real Estate License Law Officials, with an equivalent real
estate licensing law as determined by the commission."

����
SECTION
4.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DCCA; Professional
or Vocational Licensing; Citizenship; Individual Tax Identification Numbers

Description:

Removes
the barrier requiring applicants for professional or vocational licensing to be
United States citizens, United States nationals, or persons with work
visas.
�
Allows applicants to provide
individual tax identification numbers in lieu of social security numbers if all
other requirements are met.

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