SB2968 • 2026

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.

Labor

Active

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Sponsor: MCKELVEY, CHANG, GABBARD, Richards, San Buenaventura
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN.
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 EMPLOYMENT.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.
DLIR; Hotelkeepers; Hospitality Workers; Safety; Panic Buttons; Rules Requires hotelkeepers to supply and provide annual training on the proper use and limitations of a panic button to certain workers no later than 1/1/2027.
Effective 1/1/2077.
(SD1)

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.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2968 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2968 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2968 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT .

Bill History

2026-02-18 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN.
2026-02-18 S
Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2321) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.
2026-02-11 S
The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara.
2026-02-09 S
The committee(s) on LBT has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-11-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-02-09 S
Public notice requirement waived pursuant to Senate Rule 21.
2026-02-08 S
The committee(s) on LBT deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 3:01PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-01-30 S
Referred to LBT, CPN.
2026-01-26 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-23 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.
DLIR; Hotelkeepers; Hospitality Workers; Safety; Panic Buttons; Rules
Requires hotelkeepers to supply and provide annual training on the proper use and limitations of a panic button to certain workers no later than 1/1/2027. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2968

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2968

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Employment
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that hospitality
workers frequently work in isolated conditions, placing the workers at
increased risk of harassment and assault.
�

Media reports have documented cases in which workers were targeted due
to a lack of adequate protections.
�
In
2019, the State of Washington enacted legislation to address these concerns,
including by requiring employers in the hospitality industry to equip certain
vulnerable workers with panic buttons.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to implement similar protections for hospitality
workers in Hawaii.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 486K, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�
486K-
�
Safety of workers; panic buttons; training.
�
(a)
�

Each hotelkeeper shall supply a panic button and provide annual training
on the proper use and limitations of the panic button to each hospitality
worker who works in guest rooms, restrooms, or other isolated conditions.
�
The panic button shall be portable and shall:

����
(1)
�
Immediately summon assistance from a
security guard, another worker, or a supervising employer; and

����
(2)
�
Be designed to function effectively
in the worker's physical environment.

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(b)
�
For the purposes of this section
:

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"Hospitality
worker" means an individual employed by a hotelkeeper or by a person or
entity licensed in the State to operate a hotel or similar lodging, to:

����
(1)
�
Clean guest rooms or restrooms;

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(2)
�
Deliver meals to private rooms; or

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(3)
�
Perform maintenance or front desk
operations.

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"Panic
button" means a portable emergency communication device that allows a
hospitality worker to immediately summon on-site assistance if the worker
reasonably believes they are in danger.
"

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SECTION
3.
�
The department of labor and
industrial relations shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, to effectuate the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION
4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval; provided that all hotelkeepers shall be in compliance with this Act
no later than January 1, 2027.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DLIR;
Hotelkeepers; Hospitality Workers; Safety; Panic Buttons; Rules

Description:

Requires
hotelkeepers to

supply and provide annual training
on the proper use and limitations of a panic button to certain workers no later
than 1/1/2027.

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