SB2259 • 2026

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.

Budget

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: DECOITE, CHANG, GABBARD, KIDANI, MCKELVEY, RHOADS, SAN BUENAVENTURA, Wakai
Last action: 2026-05-08
Official status: Enrolled 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 THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.
DBEDT; Hawaii Dementia Initiative Business Recognition Program; Establishment; Appropriation ($) Establishes the Hawaii Dementia Initiative Business Recognition Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Appropriates funds.
(CD1)

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: SB2259 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2259 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2259 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2259 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2259 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2259 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2259 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2259 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2259 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM .

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
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.
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-05-01 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 237-26) as amended in (CD 1).
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. 237-26).
2026-05-01 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 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) DeCoite, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:40 PM; Conference Room 309.
2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:37 PM; Conference Room 329.
2026-05-01 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 4:31PM in Conference Room 411.
2026-05-01 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 11:30AM in Conference Room 411.
2026-04-30 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 8:01AM in conference room 411.
2026-04-28 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-30-26 8:30AM in conference room 411.
2026-04-22 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 720).
2026-04-21 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: DeCoite Chair; Wakai Co-Chair; Fevella.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Ilagan, Hussey Co-Chairs; Tam, Gedeon.
2026-04-10 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).
2026-04-10 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 503).
2026-04-09 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-09 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2003-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-07 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-02 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-04-02 H
The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.
2026-03-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-24 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).
2026-03-24 H
Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1328-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-03-20 H
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-16 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Friday, 03-20-26 9:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
This measure has been deleted from the meeting scheduled on Friday 03-13-26 10:00AM in conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-10 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Friday, 03-13-26 10:00AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-10 H
Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 15
2026-02-25 H
Pass First Reading
2026-02-24 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 10) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-02-24 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Gabbard). Transmitted to House.
2026-02-23 S
One Day Notice 02-24-26.
2026-02-23 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2697) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-19 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Richards.
2026-02-13 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-11 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-11 S
Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2190) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-03 S
The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Fukunaga, Kim, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-01-30 S
The committee(s) on EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-01-26 S
Referred to EDT, WAM.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-15 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.
DBEDT; Hawaii Dementia Initiative Business Recognition Program; Establishment; Appropriation ($)
Establishes the Hawaii Dementia Initiative Business Recognition Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2259

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2259

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the department of business, economic development, and tourism
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are not
only detrimental to residents of the State but also affect businesses, economic
growth, and visitors to Hawaii.

����
Creating a dementia-friendly business
environment would greatly enhance the quality of life for those living with
dementia and for their caregivers, while also demonstrating that this is not
just a health issue, but also an economic and community development priority.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
establish a business recognition program within the department of business,
economic development, and tourism to promote brain health awareness in the
business community and provide knowledge on the harmful effects of not only
Alzheimer's disease, but all forms of dementia, to better serve and support
customers while creating a dementia-capable workforce.

����
SECTION 2.
�

Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section
to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�201-
��
��
Hawaii
dementia initiative business recognition program.
�
(a)
�
There is established within the department
the Hawaii dementia initiative business recognition program to promote among
the business community awareness of Alzheimer's disease and dementia and to promote
a dementia-capable workforce.

����
(b)
�
The program shall be accessible through the
department's website, where businesses may apply to become recognized as
dementia-friendly.

����
(c)
�
Businesses that apply shall receive a list of
approved organizations that provide dementia training for employees.
�
All current employees shall complete a
one-hour training session to qualify the business as dementia-friendly.

����
(d)
�
Upon completing the training under subsection
(c), a business shall receive:

����
(1)
�
Access
to a badge for the website of the business, indicating that the business is certified
by the Hawaii dementia initiative as dementia-friendly; and

����
(2)
�
A
decal or sticker of the Hawaii dementia initiative certified business logo to
place at the physical location of the business.

����
(e)
�
The department shall publish a list of
recognized businesses on its website for access by individuals living with
dementia and their families.

����
(f)
�
The department may also promote the program
and the list of Hawaii dementia initiative-certified businesses through various
media to further incentivize business participation.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $
���������
or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish and administer the Hawaii
dementia initiative business recognition program.

����
The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes
of this Act.

����
SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DBEDT; Hawaii
Dementia Initiative Business Recognition Program; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
the Hawaii Dementia Initiative Business Recognition Program within the Department
of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
�

Appropriates moneys.

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