HB1960 • 2026

RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: TEMPLO, AMATO, BELATTI, GRANDINETTI, HARTSFIELD, HASHEM, ICHIYAMA, ILAGAN, KAHALOA, KAPELA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, LA CHICA, LOWEN, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SAYAMA, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TARNAS, YAMASHITA
Last action: 2026-05-07
Official status: Transmitted to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AG; DLE; Human Trafficking Awareness; Transient Accommodations Sector; Training; Signage; Reporting; Penalties; Rules Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop a Human Trafficking Awareness Training Program, or approve externally developed programs, to educate and train workers in the transient accommodations sector.
Requires transient accommodations employers or transient accommodations third-party contractors to periodically provide the human trafficking awareness training to certain employees and contract workers, keep records of the training, post signage, and develop and implement a human trafficking prevention policy that includes procedures for the reporting of suspected human trafficking.
Establishes penalties.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: HB1960 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1960 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1960 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: HB1960 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1960 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1960 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING .

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: HB1960 HD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1960 HD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1960 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING .

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: HB1960 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1960 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1960 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-07 H
Transmitted to Governor.
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
2026-05-01 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 126-26).
2026-05-01 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 126-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-04-30 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Tam, Sayama, Poepoe, Templo, Ratcliffe, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-30 S
The 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) Rhoads, Elefante; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.
2026-04-29 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 3:45PM in conference room 325.
2026-04-28 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 3:45PM in conference room 325.
2026-04-27 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 3:50PM in conference room 325.
2026-04-27 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 778).
2026-04-27 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Elefante Co-Chair; Awa.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Tam, Sayama, Poepoe, Templo Co-Chairs; Ratcliffe, Gedeon.
2026-04-20 H
Re-referred to TOU, LAB, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 30
2026-04-16 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).
2026-04-14 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2026-04-10 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 538) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-04-10 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-04-09 S
One Day Notice 04-10-26.
2026-04-09 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3645) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-06 S
The 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..
2026-04-01 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-06-26 10:32AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-30 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-30 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3345) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-27 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Awa.
2026-03-23 S
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-27-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-03-23 S
Re-Referred to JDC, WAM.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to JDC/PSM, WAM.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 326).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1133-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-24 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Garcia.
2026-02-20 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 02-24-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 648-26), recommending referral to JHA.
2026-02-19 H
The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kong.
2026-02-17 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Thursday, 02-19-26 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-10 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LAB with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-09 H
Reported from TOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 60-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to LAB.
2026-02-05 H
The committee on TOU recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tam, Templo, Holt, Hussey, Ilagan, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by TOU on Thursday, 02-05-26 9:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to TOU, LAB, JHA, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AG; DLE; Human Trafficking Awareness; Transient Accommodations Sector; Training; Signage; Reporting; Penalties; Rules
Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop a Human Trafficking Awareness Training Program, or approve externally developed programs, to educate and train workers in the transient accommodations sector. Requires transient accommodations employers or transient accommodations third-party contractors to periodically provide the human trafficking awareness training to certain employees and contract workers, keep records of the training, post signage, and develop and implement a human trafficking prevention policy that includes procedures for the reporting of suspected human trafficking. Establishes penalties. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to adopt rules. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1960

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1960

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to human trafficking
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
Chapter
28
,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to
part
XIII to
be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�
28
-
�
H
uman
trafficking awareness

training program
;
transient
accommodations sector.

�
No later than ,
t
he department
of the attorney general
shall
develop
a human trafficking awareness training
program for the purpose of educating and training
workers in the transient accommodations sector.
�
The training program
shall include but not be limited to
the following components
:

����
(1)
�
D
efinition
s

of human trafficking and
the
commercial exploitation of children;

����
(
2
)
�
Explanation
of the
d
ifferences between labor
trafficking

and sex trafficking
,

as they relate to the

transient accommodations sector;

����
(
3
)
�
Guidance on
indicators
of human
trafficking
, including identifying:

���������
(A)
�
I
ndividuals

who may be vulnerable to or victims of human
trafficking;

and

���������
(B)
�
Individuals
who may be engaged in
human
trafficking

activity
;

����
(5)
�
Guidance on the

appropriate response and reporting procedures for
transient
accommodations
workers when indicators of human trafficking
are observed
; and

����
(6)
�
C
ontact information for
:

���������
(A)
�
T
he
National Human Trafficking Hotline toll‑free number and text line
;

and

���������
(B)
�
Appropriate

local law enforcement agenc
ies
.

����
(b)
�
For the
purposes of this section, "
transient accommodations" has the same meaning as defined in section
237D‑1.
"

����
SECTION

2
.
�
Chapter
371
,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�
371-
�
Human
trafficking awareness; transient accommodations sector; training; records; signage;
reporting; penalties.
�
(a)
�
E
very transient accommodations
employer shall provide human trafficking awareness training
developed pursuant to section 28-
to its employees
and contract workers w
ithin one hundred eighty days of employment
or placement, as applicable,
and at least every two years thereafter.

����
(
b
)
�
Each
transient accommodations employer providing human trafficking awareness
training under this section shall maintain records
documenting

the completion of the
required
training by its employees
and contract workers pursuant to rules adopted by
the department.
�
The director or the director
'
s
authorized representative shall
,
for the purpose of
examination
,
have access to and the right to copy the
records.
�
Every
transient accommodations employer shall furnish to the director or the director
'
s
authorized representative any information relating to the
training of
employees and
contract
workers
pursuant to this section
in any manner as the director may prescribe
.

����
(c)
�
No later than
, every transient
accommodations employer shall post
and keep posted in
a
conspicuous
place readily accessible to its employees and contract workers signage
regarding
human trafficking awareness
in a form prescribed
by the department by rule; provided that the signage shall be printed in an
easily legible font
in English and any other language spoken by at least
ten per cent of
its
employees

and contract workers
.

����
(
d
)
�
No later than ,
every transient accommodations employer shall
develop and implement
a h
uman trafficking prevention policy
that shall:

����
(1)
�
A
pply
to all
of its individuals in
employ

and contract workers; and

����
(2)
�
Include
p
rocedures for the reporting of suspected human trafficking to the
National Human Trafficking Hotline or to a local law enforcement agency
.

����
(
e
)
�
A transient accommodations
employer
or its employee or

contract worker

who

in good faith
complies with this
section
or
reports suspected human trafficking pursuant to policies adopted pursuant this
section shall not
be
subject to civil or criminal liability for any
act
or omission arising out of or related to human trafficking committed by a third
party
,
unless the
employer,
employee,
or
worker
knowingly assists
in
the
commission of human trafficking.

����
(
f
)
�
Any
transient
accommodations
employer who
violates
this section shall be fined not
more than $

for each separate offense.
�
Each day the
violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
�
Any action taken to impose or collect the
penalty provided for in this subsection shall be considered a civil action.

����
(g)
�
The department shall
,
in consultation with the department of the attorney general,
adopt rules
pursuant to chapter 91
necessary to carry out the purposes of this
section.

����
(
h
)
�
For purposes of this section:

����
"
Contract

worker" means an individual employed by a
transient accommodations third-party contractor

who, pursuant to
a contract for services with a transient
accommodations employer, has contact with guests or access to guest rooms of
the transient accommodations.

����
"
E
mployee"
means an individual employed by a transient accommodations employer who has
contact with guests or access to guest rooms of the transient accommodations.

����
"Transient
accommodations"
has the same meaning as defined in section
237D-1.

����
"Transient
accommodations employer" means an employer that owns, operates, manages,
or controls transient accommodations located in the State, and:

����
(1)
�
Employs
one or more employees; or

����
(2)
�
Contracts
with a transient accommodations third‑party contractor for the services
of one or more contract workers.

����
"
Transient
accommodations third-party contractor
" means any person who, for a fee
or other valuable consideration exacted, charged, or received, furnishes or
supplies contract workers for placement with a transient accommodations employers
upon request.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

AG;
DLIR;
Human Trafficking Awareness; Transient Accommodations
Sector
; Training; Signage; Reporting;
Penalties; Rules

Description:

Requires
the D
epartment of the
A
ttorney
G
eneral
to
develop a
H
uman
T
rafficking
A
wareness

T
raining
P
rogram
to
educat
e
and train workers in the transient accommodations sector.
�
Requires
transient accommodations employers
to
periodically p
rovide
the
human trafficking awareness training
to
certain
employees
and contract workers
; keep records of the training; post signage; and
develop and implement
a
human trafficking prevention policy that
includes
procedures for the reporting of suspected human trafficking.
�
Establishes penalties.
�
Requires the
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to adopt rules.

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