SB2446 • 2026

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Active

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

Sponsor: RHOADS, CHANG, ELEFANTE, FUKUNAGA
Last action: 2026-05-01
Official status: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:40 PM; Conference Room 325.
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 JUDICIARY.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.
Intermediate Court of Appeals; Membership Increases the number of associate judges on the Intermediate Court of Appeals from six to seven.
Effective 7/1/3000.
(HD1)

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.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2446 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2446 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2446 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2446 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2446 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2446 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB2446 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2446 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2446 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Bill History

2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:40 PM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-30 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
2026-04-29 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 2:00PM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-28 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 2:00PM; CR 325.
2026-04-27 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
2026-04-24 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
2026-04-23 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-26 3:10PM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-22 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-26 2:35PM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-21 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800).
2026-04-21 H
House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Hartsfield Co-Chairs; Poepoe, Garcia.
2026-04-20 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).
2026-04-20 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Kim 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. 661).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-10 H
Deferred one day 04-14-26.
2026-04-10 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2077-26), 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: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.
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.
2026-03-25 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Matsumoto, Perruso excused (2).
2026-03-25 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1417-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-03-19 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.
2026-03-17 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 03-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-10 H
Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 15
2026-03-05 H
Pass First Reading
2026-02-25 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 17) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-02-25 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Kidani). Transmitted to House.
2026-02-23 S
48 Hrs. Notice 02-25-26.
2026-02-23 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2703) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-02-19 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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 JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2204) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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.
2026-02-02 S
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-01-28 S
Referred to JDC, WAM.
2026-01-22 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-22 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.
Intermediate Court of Appeals; Membership
Increases the number of associate judges on the Intermediate Court of Appeals from six to seven. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2446

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2446

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE
JUDICIARY
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 602-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

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"
�602-51
�
How constituted.
�
The intermediate appellate court shall
consist of a chief judge and [
six
]
seven
associate judges. The
chief judge, who shall be specifically selected, shall supervise the
administrative duties of the court."

����
SECTION 2.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $494,814 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027
to the judiciary for an additional intermediate appellate court associate
judge, which shall be allocated as follows:

����
(1)
�
$231,276
for the establishment of one permanent full‑time equivalent (1.0 FTE)
intermediate appellate court associate judge position;

����
(2)
�
$86,688
for the establishment of one permanent full‑time equivalent (1.0 FTE)
judicial assistant position;

����
(3)
�
$134,400
for the establishment of two permanent full‑time equivalent (2.0 FTE) law
clerk positions; and

����
(4)
�
$42,450
for equipment, books, and furniture for the new associate judge's chambers.

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The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the judiciary for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 3.
�

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

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SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Intermediate
Court of Appeals; Membership; Appropriation

Description:

Increases
the number of associate judges on the Intermediate Court of Appeals from six to
seven.
�
Appropriates funds.

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