SB2256 • 2026

RELATING TO BROTHER JOSEPH DUTTON DAY.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: DECOITE, CHANG, ELEFANTE, FEVELLA, GABBARD, HASHIMOTO, INOUYE, MCKELVEY, MORIWAKI, RICHARDS, SAN BUENAVENTURA
Last action: 2026-04-24
Official status: Act 004, on 04/23/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1104).
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 BROTHER JOSEPH DUTTON DAY.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO BROTHER JOSEPH DUTTON DAY.
Brother Joseph Dutton Day; Day of Observance Designates April 27 of every year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.

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.

Bill History

2026-04-24 H
Act 004, on 04/23/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1104).
2026-04-24 S
Act 004, 04/23/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1104).
2026-04-08 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-04-08 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 482).
2026-04-08 H
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-08 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1815-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-31 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.
2026-03-25 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-31-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-24 H
Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).
2026-03-24 H
Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1358-26), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-03-18 H
The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Kong, Garrett, Lee, M., Sayama, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-12 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CAA on Wednesday, 03-18-26 10:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to CAA, JHA, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 201).
2026-03-10 S
Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-06 S
One Day Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2962) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-02-13 S
The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.
2026-02-10 S
The committee(s) on WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-26 1:01PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.
2026-01-26 S
Referred to WLA.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-14 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO BROTHER JOSEPH DUTTON DAY.
Brother Joseph Dutton Day; Day of Observance
Designates April 27 of every year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2256

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2256

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO BROTHER JOSEPH DUTTON DAY
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that Ira Barnes Dutton
was born on April 27, 1843, in Stowe, Vermont, and spent his formative years in
Janesville, Wisconsin.
�
In September of
1861, during the beginning of the Civil War, Ira Barnes Dutton enlisted in the
Union Army as part of Company B of the thirteenth Wisconsin infantry.
�
Ira Barnes Dutton was subsequently discharged
in 1866 due to a downsizing of the military after the Civil War.
�
Following the Civil War, Ira Barnes Dutton
suffered from a failed marriage, alcoholism, probable post-traumatic stress
disorder, and other personal problems, leading him on a journey to seek
atonement through Catholicism.
�
During
this time, Ira Barnes Dutton was baptized and adopted the name of his favorite
saint, Joseph.

����
The
legislature recognizes that, upon learning about the work of Father Damien on
Molokai, Joseph Dutton made his way to Hawaii.
�

Arriving at Kalaupapa in July of 1886, Joseph Dutton assisted Father
Damien, who had been diagnosed with leprosy.
�

Joseph Dutton quickly became an expert in caring for patients while
working alongside Father Damien, who affectionately called Joseph Dutton
"Brother".
�
After Father
Damien's death three years later in 1889, Joseph Dutton managed the Baldwin
Home for Boys for leprosy victims and dedicated the remainder of his life to
the residents of Kalaupapa until becoming ill.
�

Joseph Dutton was then transferred to St. Francis Hospital in Honolulu,
where he passed away on March 26, 1931.

����
The
legislature further finds that in 1929, the Hawaii territorial house of
representatives acknowledged the work of Brother Joseph Dutton and passed House
Resolution No. 7, which read, in part, "this House desires to put on
record its appreciation of the great and inspiring service and influence for
good, for the splendid and effective service he has rendered in their behalf
and for the work done during the past 40 years by Brother Joseph Dutton in the
Settlement of Molokai in his ministration to the afflicted in Kalawao and
Kalaupapa; and that the thanks of the House of representatives be extended to
him in his memorial".

����
The
legislature notes that the State officially recognizes Saint Damien de Veuster
Day every May 10; Saint Marianne Cope Day every January 23; and Kalaupapa Month
every January.
�
The legislature believes
that similar recognition should be accorded to Brother Joseph Dutton.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to honor the hard work and dedication of Brother
Joseph Dutton in helping residents of Kalaupapa by establishing April 27 of
each year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 8, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

����
"
�8-
�
Brother Joseph Dutton Day.
�
April 27 of each year

shall be
known and designated as "Brother Joseph Dutton Day".
�
This day is not and shall not be construed to
be a state holiday.
"

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

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Brother
Joseph Dutton Day; Day of Observance

Description:

Designates
April 27 of every year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.

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