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HB672 • 2026

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

Active

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

Sponsor
BELATTI, GRANDINETTI, IWAMOTO, MARTEN, PERRUSO, PIERICK, POEPOE, TAM, TODD
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 about the duration of public assistance or consequences for failing to meet eligibility criteria.

Public Assistance During Emergencies

This bill allows the Department of Human Services to provide public assistance to eligible residents during a Governor-Declared State of Emergency.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Department of Human Services (DHS) to give help to people who need it when there is an emergency declared by the governor.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Residents of Hawaii during a Governor-Declared State of Emergency
  • The Department of Human Services

Terms To Know

State of Emergency
A situation declared by the governor where special rules apply to help deal with an emergency.
Substantial Gainful Activity
Work that earns at least a certain amount, as set by the Social Security Administration.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how long the public assistance will last during an emergency.
  • It is unclear what happens if someone does not meet all the requirements for help.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-01-21 H

    Referred to HSH, PBS, FIN, referral sheet 2

  3. 2025-01-21 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  4. 2025-01-17 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
DHS; General Assistance; State of Emergency; Emergency Supplementary Income; Eligibility
Allows the Department of Human Services to administer and provide public assistance to eligible residents of the State during a Governor-Declared State of Emergency.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB672

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

672

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 346,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

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"
�346-
�
General
assistance to households upon the governor's declaration of a state of
emergency
.
�
(a)
�
Upon issuance of a proclamation by the
governor declaring a state of emergency in the State under section 127A-14, the
department may administer and provide public assistance during the emergency
period to persons who are not otherwise provided for under this chapter and who
are unable to provide sufficient support for themselves or those dependent upon
them; provided that the persons:

����
(1)
�
Are bona fide residents of this
State, as determined by the residency criteria established in section 346‑71(a);

����
(2)
�
Have furnished to the department for
each member of the persons' assistance unit a social security account number or
verification that an application was made with the Social Security
Administration for a social security account number for each member of the
assistance unit; and

����
(3)
�
Satisfy the income criteria adopted
by the department and other conditions set forth in this section.

����
(b)
�
A person between eighteen and sixty-five
years of age shall be eligible for general assistance under this section if the
person is:

����
(1)
�
D
etermined to be needy in
accordance with standards established by this chapter and the rules adopted under
subsection (f);

����
(2)
�
U
nable to meet the income and
financial resources eligibility criteria for the federal supplemental security
income program or the program's successor; and

����
(3)
�
Unable to engage in any substantial
gainful activity because of the governor-declared state of emergency.

����
(c)
�
The allowance for general assistance under
this section shall not exceed the monthly federal supplemental security income
benefit payment for the State.

����
(d)
�

Applicants and recipients shall satisfy all applicable provisions of
this section.
�
Recipients disqualified
for failure to comply with any of the requirements under this section shall be
excluded from general assistance under this section for a period not to exceed
twelve months.

����
(e)
�
Failure of any adult member of the assistance
unit to comply with the requirements or conditions of general assistance under
this section shall disqualify the entire assistance unit from receiving
financial assistance under this section; provided that the assistance unit
shall not be disqualified if the
adult member is disqualified for
failing to meet the work requirement
and the assistance unit was formed
after the
failure had occurred
.

����
(f)
�
Within the limitations of this section, the
department shall, by rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, determine:

����
(1)
�
The allowance for general assistance
under this section based on the total amount available from applicable federal
funds;

����
(2)
�
A method for determining assistance
amounts; and

����
(3)
�
Other necessary provisions to
implement, administer, and provide general assistance under this section.

����
(g)
�
For the purposes of this section:

����
"Assistance
unit" means a person or group of persons whose needs and income are
considered in determining the payment of financial assistance under this
section.
�
"Assistance unit"
includes the person or persons' dependents.

����
"Substantial
gainful activity" means work for which the person earns at minimum the
amount set forth in the Social Security Administration's Substantial Gainful
Activity Earnings Guideline.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�

New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DHS; General Assistance; State of Emergency; Emergency
Supplementary Income; Eligibility

Description:

Allows the Department of Human Services to administer and
provide public assistance to eligible residents of the State during a
Governor-Declared State of Emergency.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.