HB478 • 2026

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.

Labor

Active

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

Sponsor: SAYAMA, KILA, LAMOSAO, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MIYAKE, POEPOE, TAM, TARNAS
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's applicability depends on the absence of comparable provisions in state law governing public officers and employees, which may vary by situation.

Making State and County Employers Pay Wages

This bill changes the definition of 'employer' to include the state and counties when it comes to paying wages, making sure they follow the same rules as other employers if there is no similar rule already for public officers and employees.

What This Bill Does

Changes the law so that the state and counties are considered employers for wage payment purposes if there is no comparable provision in state law governing public officers and employees.

Who It Names or Affects

The state government and local governments (counties) in Hawaii.
State workers and county employees who receive wages when there is no similar rule already in place for public officers and employees.

Terms To Know

Employer: A person or organization that hires others to work for them, including the state and counties under this bill if there is no comparable provision in state law governing public officers and employees.
Wages: Money paid to employees for their work.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only applies when there is no similar rule already in place for public officers and employees.
It does not change the penalties or procedures that were in effect before this bill was introduced.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-11 H
The committee(s) on LAB recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 02-11-25 9:00AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.
Employment; State and County Employers; Payment of Wages
Amends the definition of "employer" in state law that governs payment of wages and other compensation to include the State and counties when a provision in that law has no comparable provision in state law that governs public officers and employees.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB478

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

478

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Employment
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that employers have a duty to pay their employees on
time.
�
In 2017, former Governor Ige
signed Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, into state law, which established
how and when employees are to be paid.
�

Under Act 135, an employer that fails to pay wages within seven days after
the end of a pay period may be ordered to pay an administrative penalty of not
less than $500 or $100 for each employee for every day of the violation,
whichever is greater, in addition to back pay and damages equal to the amount
of unpaid wages and interest at a rate of six per cent per year from the date
that the wages were due.
�
The legislature
finds that the State and counties should hold themselves to the same standard.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to increase the accountability of state and county
employers with respect to the timely payment of wages to their employees.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 388-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending the definition of "employer" to read as follows:

����
""Employer"
includes any individual; partnership; association; joint-stock company; trust;
corporation; the personal representative of the estate of a deceased individual
or the receiver, trustee, or successor of any of the same;
and
general
contractor, for purposes of wages owed to the employees of a subcontractor, as
those terms are defined in section 388‑11.5[
;
]
,
employing
any person, but shall not include [
the State or any political subdivision
thereof or
] the United States[
.
]
; provided that the "employer"
includes the State and any political subdivision thereof when a provision of
this chapter has no comparable provision in chapter 78.
"

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SECTION 3.
�

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

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SECTION 4.
�

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

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SECTION 5.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Employment;
State and County Employers; Payment of Wages

Description:

Amends
the definition of "employer" in state law that governs payment of
wages and other compensation to include the State and counties when a provision
in that law has no comparable provision in state law that governs public
officers and employees.

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