HB868 • 2026

RELATING TO DISABILITIES.

Active

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

Sponsor: AMATO, BELATTI, GRANDINETTI, IWAMOTO, KAPELA, KILA, MIYAKE, PERRUSO, QUINLAN, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify a deadline for reporting findings.

Making State Parks Accessible

This bill requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to check if its facilities follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and report any problems to lawmakers.

What This Bill Does

The bill tells the Department of Land and Natural Resources to look at all their buildings and parks to see if they are following rules for people with disabilities.
It asks the department to make a list of places that do not follow these rules.
The department must give this list to lawmakers by November 1, 2025.

Who It Names or Affects

People who use state parks and other facilities run by the Department of Land and Natural Resources
Lawmakers in Hawaii

Terms To Know

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A federal law that makes sure people with disabilities have equal access to public places, like parks and buildings.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what will happen after the department reports its findings.
It is unclear if other state departments besides DLNR will be required to do similar checks.
This bill has been carried over to the next session, so it might change or need more work.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-13 H
The committee(s) on WAL recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
2025-02-10 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 02-13-25 9:30AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-23 H
Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 3
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO DISABILITIES.
DLNR; ADA; Compliance; Report
Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to evaluate its facilities for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and compile a list of non-compliant facilities. Requires report to the Legislature.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB868

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

868

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to disabilities
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that many state
facilities are not compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990, as amended (ADA).
�
Compliance
with the ADA concerns the entire community and fulfills our duty to recognize
and uphold the rights and needs of our disabled community members. Compliance
with the ADA is mandatory, and the legislature must ensure that state buildings
and facilities meet the needs of the entire community.

����
The
legislature further finds that Title II of the ADA requires that state and
local governments provide people with disabilities an equal opportunity to
benefit from programs, services, and activities, including public education,
employment, transportation, recreation, health care, social services, courts,
voting, and public meetings.

����
Title II
of the ADA also requires state and local governments to follow specific
architectural standards in new construction and alteration of their facilities.
�
They must also relocate programs or otherwise
provide access in inaccessible older buildings and communicate effectively with
persons who have hearing, vision, or speech disabilities.
�
Public entities are not required to take
actions that would result in undue financial and administrative burdens.
�
They are, however, required to make
reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures as necessary to
avoid discrimination, unless they can demonstrate that doing so would
fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity being
provided.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to require the department of land and natural resources
to evaluate and report on department facilities that are not in compliance with
the ADA.

����
SECTION
2.
�
The department of land and natural
resources shall conduct an evaluation of its facilities for compliance with
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, and compile
a list of facilities that are non‑compliant.
�
The department shall report its findings to
the legislature by November 1, 2025.

����
SECTION
3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DLNR;
ADA; Compliance; Report

Description:

Requires
the Department of Land and Natural Resources to evaluate its facilities for
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and compile a list of
non-compliant facilities.
�
Requires report
to the Legislature.

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