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SB2791 • 2026

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Active

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

Sponsor
DECOITE, CHANG, FEVELLA, KIDANI, LAMOSAO, MCKELVEY, Ihara, Inouye, Kanuha, Wakai
Last action
2026-01-30
Official status
Referred to HHS, WAM.
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 HUMAN SERVICES.

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

What This Bill Does

  • RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.
  • DHS; State Kamaʻaina Credit Program; ALICE Households; Working Group; Report Directs the Department of Human Services to convene a working group to develop a statewide Kamaʻaina credit program to assist asset limited, income constrained, employed households to pay for essential living costs.
  • Requires a report to the Legislature.

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. 2026-01-30 S

    Referred to HHS, WAM.

  2. 2026-01-26 S

    Passed First Reading.

  3. 2026-01-23 S

    Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.
DHS; State Kamaʻaina Credit Program; ALICE Households; Working Group; Report
Directs the Department of Human Services to convene a working group to develop a statewide Kamaʻaina credit program to assist asset limited, income constrained, employed households to pay for essential living costs. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB2791

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2791

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to human services
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
(a)
�
The department of human services shall
convene a working group to research and develop a statewide Kama
ʻ
aina
credit program, based on the county of Maui's Kama
ʻ
aina
credit program, to assist asset limited, income constrained, employed (ALICE)
households that earn too much income to qualify for traditional government
assistance programs, but still struggle to pay for housing, utilities, health
care, groceries, and other essentials in Hawaii.

����
(b)
�
The
director of human services or the director's designee shall serve as
chairperson of the working group.
�
Representatives
from state entities and other relevant stakeholders, as determined by the director
of human services or the director's designee, shall be invited to become
members of the working group.

����
(c)
�
Members
of the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed
for reasonable expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the
performance of their duties.
�
No member
of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
solely because of the member's participation in the working group.

����
(d)
�

The program developed by the working group shall:

����
(1)
�
Be
administered by the department of human services or other appropriate agency;

����
(2)
�
Partner
with nonprofit organizations for implementation;

����
(3)
�
Offer
financial credits or subsidies to assist with essential living costs;

����
(4)
�
Use
clear eligibility criteria based on Hawaii's cost of living; and

����
(5)
�
Include
accountability measures, including annual reporting requirements.

����
(e)
�
The
working group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations,
including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty
days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.

����
(f)
�
The
working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2027.

����
SECTION 2.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED
BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DHS;
State Kama
ʻ
aina Credit Program; ALICE
Households; Working Group; Report

Description:

Directs
the Department of Human Services to convene a working group to develop a
statewide Kama
ʻ
aina credit program to assist asset
limited, income constrained, employed households to pay for essential living
costs.
�
Requires a report to the
Legislature.

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