SB2397 • 2026

RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS.

Elections

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: FUKUNAGA
Last action: 2026-05-08
Official status: Enrolled to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on what happens if there are no members available to form a quorum, leaving this as an open question.

Rules for Neighborhood Boards in Honolulu

This bill changes the quorum requirements for neighborhood boards in Honolulu to allow a majority of filled seats to form a quorum when there are vacancies.

What This Bill Does

Changes the rule about how many members need to be present at meetings of neighborhood boards in Honolulu.
Allows a meeting to have a quorum if more than half of the current board members are present, even if some spots on the board are empty.

Who It Names or Affects

Neighborhood boards in Honolulu
Members of neighborhood boards in Honolulu

Terms To Know

quorum: The minimum number of members who must be present at a meeting to make decisions.
vacancy: An empty position on the board that needs to be filled.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if there are no current members available to form a quorum.
The bill does not change how community outreach boards operate.
It only affects neighborhood boards in Honolulu, not other parts of Hawaii.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB2397 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2397 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2397 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2397 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2397 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2397 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SFA4

Hawaii published version SFA4

Plain English: SB template SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT FLOOR AMENDMENT NO.

SB template SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT FLOOR AMENDMENT NO.
�� Date �� TO:�� Senate Bill No.
2397 SECTION 1.� Senate Bill No.
2397, section 3, is amended by amending page 2, line 9, to read as follows: �� "SECTION 3.� This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2525." Offered by: �� (�� )� Carried (�� )� Failed to Carry (�� )� Withdrawn

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: 2026-1629 SB2397 SD1 SMA.

2026-1629 SB2397 SD1 SMA.
THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2397 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.

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 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-29 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-04-29 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 90-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-04-29 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
2026-04-29 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 90-26).
2026-04-28 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Belatti, Poepoe, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-28 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-27 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016.
2026-04-23 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-27-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016.
2026-04-21 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800).
2026-04-21 H
House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas Chair; Belatti, Poepoe, Shimizu.
2026-04-20 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).
2026-04-20 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Rhoads Co-Chair; Awa.
2026-04-16 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
2026-04-16 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-16 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 654).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-09 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
2026-04-09 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1974-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-04-07 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Cochran.
2026-04-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-18 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 18
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-12 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 406) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-12 S
Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fevella). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-10 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-12-26
2026-03-10 S
Report filed.
2026-03-10 S
Separated Committee Report.
2026-03-10 S
Floor amendment adopted as amended (SD 1).
2026-03-10 S
Floor Amendment No. 4 offered.
2026-03-06 S
One Day Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2986) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-27 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-23 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-27-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-11 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.
2026-02-11 S
Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2151) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.
2026-02-05 S
The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Moriwaki, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto.
2026-02-03 S
The committee(s) on GVO deferred the measure until 02-05-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-01-30 S
The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-01-28 S
Referred to GVO, JDC.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-20 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS.
Neighborhood Boards; Vacancies; Quorum Requirements
Establishes that when a neighborhood board of the City and County of Honolulu has a vacancy, a majority of the filled seats shall constitute quorum for conducting official board business and discussions before and related to voting. Effective 1/1/2027. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2397

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2397

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Neighborhood Boards
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 92-81, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

����
"
(d)
�

A
quorum
for a meeting of a neighborhood board or community outreach board shall be
required for:

����
(1)
�
Conducting official board business;

����
(2)
�
Discussions before and related to voting; and

����
(3)
�
Voting required to validate an act of the
board as part of official board business
[
.
]
;

provided that if

a neighborhood board
overseen by a neighborhood commission of the city and county of Honolulu has a
vacancy, notwithstanding section 92-15, only a majority of all seats on the
neighborhood board that are filled shall constitute a quorum to conduct
official board business and discussion before and related to voting and the
concurrence of a majority of all members present at a meeting at which quorum
is established shall be necessary to make any act of the board as part of
official board business
valid.

����
A
neighborhood board or community outreach board may receive information or
testimony on a matter of official board business without a quorum; provided
that the board shall not make a decision on the issue.
�
The board members, at the next meeting of the
board, shall report the matters presented as information or testimony.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�

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

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Neighborhood
Boards; Vacancies; Quorum
Requirements

Description:

Establishes that when
a neighborhood board of the City and County of Honolulu has a vacancy, a
majority of all seats that are filled shall constitute quorum to conduct
business and a majority vote of the members present at the board's meeting hall

validate an act of the
board
as part of its
official
business
.

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