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SB2564 • 2026

RELATING TO ADOPTIONS.

RELATING TO ADOPTIONS.

Active

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

Sponsor
KOUCHI (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action
2026-02-17
Official status
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.
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 ADOPTIONS.

RELATING TO ADOPTIONS.

What This Bill Does

  • RELATING TO ADOPTIONS.
  • Judiciary Package; Family Courts; Adoptions; Consent; Notary Adds the requirement that a written consent to adoption be notarized.

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

  1. 2026-02-17 S

    Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.

  2. 2026-02-17 S

    Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2300) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.

  3. 2026-02-04 S

    The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  4. 2026-01-30 S

    The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-26 1:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

  5. 2026-01-28 S

    Referred to HHS, JDC.

  6. 2026-01-23 S

    Passed First Reading.

  7. 2026-01-23 S

    Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ADOPTIONS.
Judiciary Package; Family Courts; Adoptions; Consent; Notary
Adds the requirement that a written consent to adoption be notarized.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB2564

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2564

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Adoptions
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 578-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

����
"(a)
�
Persons required to consent to adoption.
�
Unless consent is not required or is
dispensed with under subsection (c), a petition to adopt a child may be granted
only if written consent to the proposed adoption has been
notarized by a
notary public in this or any other jurisdiction and
executed by:

����
(1)
�
The birthing
parent of the child;

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(2)
�
A legal
non-birthing parent to whom the child is a legitimate child;

����
(3)
�
An adjudicated
non-birthing parent whose relationship to the child has been determined by a
court;

����
(4)
�
A presumed
non-birthing parent under subsection (d);

����
(5)
�
A concerned
natural non-birthing parent who is not the legal, adjudicated, or presumed
non-birthing parent but who has demonstrated a reasonable degree of interest,
concern, or responsibility as to the welfare of a child, either:

���������
(A)
�
During the first
thirty days after the child's birth;

���������
(B)
�
Before the
execution of a valid consent by the birthing parent of the child; or

���������
(C)
�
Before the
placement of the child with adoptive parents;

���������
whichever period of time is
greater;

����
(6)
�
Any person or
agency having legal custody of the child or legally empowered to consent;

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(7)
�
The court having
jurisdiction of the custody of the child, if the legal guardian or legal
custodian of the person of the child is not empowered to consent to adoption;
and

����
(8)
�
The child to be
adopted if the child is more than ten years of age, unless the court, in the
best interest of the child, dispenses with the child's consent.

����
(b)
�
A petition to adopt an adult may be granted
only if written consent to adoption has been
notarized by a notary public in
this or any other jurisdiction and
executed by the adult and the adult's
spouse, if the adult is married."

����
SECTION
2.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

By Request

Report Title:

Judiciary
Package; Family Courts; Adoptions; Consent; Notary

Description:

Adds the
requirement that a written consent to adoption be notarized.

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