SB2970 • 2026

RELATING TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.

Labor

Active

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

Sponsor: MCKELVEY, CHANG, FEVELLA, FUKUNAGA, San Buenaventura
Last action: 2026-03-25
Official status: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Matsumoto, Perruso excused (2).
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 STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.
Code of Ethics; Prohibited Contracts; Principal State Department; Relatives and Household Members; Responsibility; Violations Repeals the $10,000 value threshold for certain prohibited contracts involving legislators or employees.
Prohibits state agencies from contracting to procure or dispose of goods or services, or for construction, with businesses owned, operated, or controlled by relatives or household members of department heads or deputy directors.
Requires department heads, acting department heads, and deputy directors of principal state departments to ensure compliance with the Code of Ethics provision governing contracts and provides for liability for violations.

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: SB2970 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2970 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2970 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2970 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2970 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2970 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT .

Bill History

2026-03-25 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Matsumoto, Perruso excused (2).
2026-03-25 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1404-26) 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.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 328) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-06 S
One Day Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2991) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-03 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.
2026-02-24 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-20 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
2026-02-20 S
Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2527) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
2026-02-10 S
The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Hashimoto, Moriwaki, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-05 S
The committee(s) on GVO deferred the measure until 02-10-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-02-02 S
The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-26 3:01PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
2026-01-30 S
Referred to GVO, JDC.
2026-01-26 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-23 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.
Code of Ethics; Prohibited Contracts; Principal State Department; Relatives and Household Members; Responsibility; Violations
Repeals the $10,000 value threshold for certain prohibited contracts involving legislators or employees. Prohibits state agencies from contracting to procure or dispose of goods or services, or for construction, with businesses owned, operated, or controlled by relatives or household members of department heads or deputy directors. Requires department heads, acting department heads, and deputy directors of principal state departments to ensure compliance with the Code of Ethics provision governing contracts and provides for liability for violations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2970

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2970

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to
read as follows:

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�84-
��

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Contracts; directors;
deputy directors.
�
(a)
�

A state agency shall not enter into a contract to procure or dispose of
goods or services, or for construction, with any business:

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(1)
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That is owned or operated; or

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(2)
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In which a controlling interest is
held,

by a relative
or household member of a director or deputy director of a principal state
department.

����
(b)
�
As used in this section:

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"Household
member" means an individual who resides in the same dwelling unit as the
director or deputy director.

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"Principal
state department" means a principal department of the executive branch
listed in section 26-4.

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"Relative"
means a director's or deputy director's parent, grandparent, stepparent, child,
grandchild, stepchild, foster child, adopted child, sibling, half-sibling,
stepsibling, parent's sibling, first cousin, sibling's child, spouse, spouse's
parent, child-in-law, or sibling-in-law, or any individual who has become a
member of the director's or deputy director's immediate family through the
Hawaiian hanai custom.
"

����
SECTION
2.
�
This Act does not affect rights and
duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were
begun before its effective date.

����
SECTION
3.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

����
SECTION
4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Ethics; Relatives
and Household Members of Directors and Deputy Directors; Contracts; Disqualification

Description:

Prohibits
a state agency from entering into any contract to procure or dispose of goods
or services, or for construction, with any business that is owned or operated,
or in which a controlling interest is held, by a relative or household member
of a director or deputy director of a principal state department.

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