SB3144 • 2026

RELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.

Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: KOUCHI (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: Enrolled to Governor.
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 HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Occupational Safety and Health Administration; Complaints; Determinations; Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board Repeals the requirement that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations regulate hoisting machines and certify their operators and the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board, including its rules requiring a separate state crane operator certificate.
Allows additional time for the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to complete an investigation of a discharge or discrimination complaint pertaining to employees exercising rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Law without formal extension.
(HD2)

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: SB3144 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB3144 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
3144 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: SB3144 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB3144 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
3144 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB3144 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB3144 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
3144 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.

Bill History

2026-04-22 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-04-22 S
Passed Final Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-21 H
Received notice of reconsideration and Senate agreement (Sen. Com. No. 716).
2026-04-21 S
One Day Notice 04-22-26
2026-04-21 S
Senate agrees with House amendments. Placed on the calendar for Final Reading on 04-22-26.
2026-04-21 S
Reconsideration of action taken on 04-09-26 in disagreeing to the House amendments.
2026-04-10 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).
2026-04-09 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-09 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 492).
2026-04-08 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-06 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-08-26.
2026-04-06 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1807-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-01 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 04-01-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-24 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).
2026-03-24 H
Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1368-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2026-03-19 H
The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-16 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Thursday, 03-19-26 9:35AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to LAB, CPC, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 370) 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. 3086) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-05 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.
2026-02-25 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-05-26 10:01AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-18 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
2026-02-18 S
Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2318) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
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.
2026-02-10 S
Public notice requirement waived pursuant to Senate Rule 21.
2026-02-09 S
The committee(s) on LBT has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-11-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-02-08 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.
2026-02-02 S
Referred to LBT, JDC.
2026-01-28 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-28 S
Introduced.
2026-01-26 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Occupational Safety and Health Administration; Complaints; Determinations; Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board
Repeals the requirement that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations regulate hoisting machines and certify their operators and the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board, including its rules requiring a separate state crane operator certificate. Allows additional time for the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to complete an investigation of a discharge or discrimination complaint pertaining to employees exercising rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Law without formal extension. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB3144

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3144

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

rELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Section 396-3,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by repealing the definitions of
"
hoisting
machine
"

and
"
hoisting machine operator
".

����
["
"Hoisting machine"
means a machine with a hoist line, sling, or hydraulic lifting mechanism used
in construction, demolition, or excavation work.

����
"
Hoisting machine operator"
means any individual who operates a hoisting machine in the State.
"]

����
SECTION 2.
�

Section 396-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending
subsection (e) to read as follows:

����
"(e)
�

Discharge or discrimination against employees for exercising any right
under this chapter is prohibited.
�
In
consideration of this prohibition:

����
(1)
�
No
person shall discharge, suspend or otherwise discriminate in terms and
conditions of employment against any employee by reason of:

���������
(A)
�
The
employee's failure or refusal to operate or handle any machine, device,
apparatus, or equipment which is in any unsafe condition; or

���������
(B)
�
The
employee's failure or refusal to engage in unsafe practices in violation of
this chapter or of any standard, rule, regulation, citation or order issued
under the authority of this chapter;

����
(2)
�
Upon
discretion of the director or request, names of complainants may be withheld
from the employer;

����
(3)
�
No
person shall discharge or in any manner discriminate against any employee
because the employee has filed any complaint or instituted or caused to be
instituted any proceeding under or related to this chapter, or has testified or
intends to testify in any such proceeding, or acting to exercise or exercised
on behalf of the employee or others any right afforded by this chapter;

����
(4)
�
Any
employee who believes that there has been a discharge or discrimination against
the employee by any person in violation of this subsection may, within sixty
days after the violation occurs, file a complaint with the director alleging
unlawful discharge or discrimination and setting forth the circumstances
thereof;

����
(5)
�
Upon
receipt of the complaint, the director shall investigate to determine if a
discharge or discrimination in violation of this subsection has occurred;

����
(6)
�
If
upon investigation the director determines that the provisions of this
subsection have been violated, the director shall order the employer to provide
all appropriate relief to the employee, including rehiring or reinstating the
employee to the former position with back pay and restoration of seniority;

����
(7)
�
Within
ninety days of receipt of a complaint filed under this subsection, [
unless
extended by the director,
] the director shall notify the employee of the
final determination and any subsequent action the department will take to
resolve the complaint[
;
]
unless the investigation cannot be completed
within that period, in which case up to ninety additional days are allowed
without notice.
�
Any further extension
may be granted by the director with notice to the employee of the additional
time required and the expected date of the final detemination;
and

����
(8)
�
Nothing
in this subsection shall preclude any employee or representative of an employee
from simultaneously pursuing a cause of action for injunctive relief or any
other remedy provided by law.
"

����
SECTION 3. Section 396-19, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is repealed.

����
[
"
�396-19
�
Hoisting machine operators advisory board
.
�
(a)
�

There is created a hoisting machine operators advisory board, which
shall be placed in the department for administrative purposes, to be composed
of five members to serve without compensation and without reimbursement for
expenses.
�
Members shall be appointed by
the governor under section 26-34.

����
The board shall adopt rules pursuant to
chapter 91 for the certification of hoisting machine operators.

����
(b)
�
The
hoisting machine operators advisory board may employ a 0.5 full-time equivalent
office assistant, without regard to chapters 76 and 89 and may dismiss such
person as it finds necessary for the performance of its function and duties.
�
The board shall have the authority to fix the
office assistant's compensation.
"]

����
SECTION 4.
�

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

����
SECTION 5.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Occupational
Safety and Health Administration; Complaints; Determinations; Hoisting Machine
Operators Advisory Board

Description:

Repeals the Hoisting Machine Operators
Advisory Board and its rules requiring a separate state crane operator
certificate and allows additional time for the Director of Labor and Industrial
Relations to complete an investigation of a discharge or discrimination
complaint pertaining to employees exercising rights under the Occupational
Safety and Health Law without formal extension.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.