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SB3239 • 2026

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

Budget
Active

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

Sponsor
FUKUNAGA, MCKELVEY, RHOADS, SAN BUENAVENTURA
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
The committee on PSM deferred the measure.
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 LANGUAGE ACCESS.

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

What This Bill Does

  • RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.
  • Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Limited English Proficiency; Language Access; Appropriation ($) Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to increase access to bilingual resources and services for residents with limited English proficiency.

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. 2026-02-18 S

    The committee on PSM deferred the measure.

  2. 2026-02-12 S

    The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  3. 2026-02-10 S

    The committee(s) on PSM deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-11-26 3:00PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

  4. 2026-02-07 S

    The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  5. 2026-02-02 S

    Referred to PSM, WAM.

  6. 2026-01-28 S

    Passed First Reading.

  7. 2026-01-28 S

    Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.
Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Limited English Proficiency; Language Access; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to increase access to bilingual resources and services for residents with limited English proficiency.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB3239

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3239

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to language access
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that the foreign-born population in Hawaii is two hundred
sixty thousand and makes up eighteen per cent of the State's total population,
which is higher than the fourteen per cent of the population of the United
States that is foreign-born.
�
Immigrants
to Hawaii arrive from many countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Mexico,
Vietnam, and the Philippines, and contribute billions to the State's economic
output by paying taxes, establishing new businesses, and staffing essential
jobs.
�
However, many immigrants are paid
below poverty rates and lack access to social benefits.

����
The legislature further finds that around
twenty-five per cent of the State's population speak a language other than
English at home and over ten per cent have limited English proficiency.
�
Among these other languages are Ilokano,
Tagalog, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Samoan, Tongan, and Micronesian languages,
including Pohnpeian, Marshallese, and Chuukese.

Without
access to services and resources in these languages, many residents of Hawaii
face significant barriers to participation in the community.

����
The legislature further finds that the
Hawaii emergency management agency has one language coordinator and needs
additional bilingual resources to communicate with residents with limited
English proficiency, especially during emergencies.
�
Additionally, bilingual resources are
essential for the state to comply with federal and state mandates, such as the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Presidential Executive Order 13166 of August 11,
2000, to provide language access as a condition to receive grants, contracts,
and other partnerships.
�
In 2006, the
State established the Office of Language Access to affirm its commitment to
civil rights and comprehensive access to services regardless of national
origin.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
provide the Hawaii emergency management agency with resources to meet the
language access needs of residents with limited English proficiency and
reaffirm its commitment to civil rights.
�

These resources will increase the Hawaii emergency management agency's
capacity to serve immigrants and other residents with limited English
proficiency by providing bilingual resources and services.

����
SECTION 2.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $ or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the Hawaii
emergency management agency to expand access to bilingual resources and
services.

����
The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the Hawaii emergency management agency for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaii
Emergency Management Agency; Limited English Proficiency; Language Access; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to increase access to
bilingual resources and services for residents with limited English
proficiency.

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