KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Hawaii

SB903 • 2026

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Budget Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
KANUHA
Last action
2026-05-08
Official status
Enrolled to Governor.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary text does not provide specific details on how the Working Group will be funded or the exact actions required of OHA.

Rules for the Public Land Trust Working Group

This law changes how the Public Land Trust Working Group operates, sets deadlines for reports about Hawaiian affairs, and provides funding to Native Hawaiian programs.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the membership and responsibilities of the Public Land Trust Working Group established under Act 226, SLH 2022.
  • Requires the group to submit four interim reports by specific dates: one on financial reporting and accounting (by August 1, 2027), another on land inventory (by December 1, 2027), a third with draft findings and recommendations (by June 1, 2028), and a final report with proposed legislation (by October 1, 2028).
  • Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to provide administrative support to the Working Group in coordination with a third-party consultant.
  • Appropriates funds from the Carry-Forward Trust Holding Account for Native Hawaiian programs and services with critical short-term funding needs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Public Land Trust Working Group
  • The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
  • Native Hawaiians who benefit from programs funded by the bill

Terms To Know

Public Land Trust Working Group
A group that looks at how land is managed and reports on it.
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
An agency that helps Native Hawaiians with programs in education, health, and economic development.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the Working Group will be funded.
  • It is unclear what specific actions OHA must take to provide administrative support to the Working Group.
  • The exact amount of money transferred from the Carry-Forward Trust Holding Account is not stated.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

CD1

13

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB903 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

  • SB903 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
  • NO.
  • 903 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
  • 2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.
HD1

1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB903 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

  • SB903 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
  • NO.
  • 903 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
  • 2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.
HD2

3

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: SB903 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.

  • SB903 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.
  • NO.
  • 903 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
  • 2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.
Hawaii published version HD2_PROPOSED

Plain English: Report Title: THE SENATE S.B.

  • Report Title: THE SENATE S.B.
  • NO.
  • 903 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
  • 2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.
SD2

11

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB903 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

  • SB903 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
  • NO.
  • 903 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
  • 2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS .
SD1

7

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB903 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

  • SB903 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
  • NO.
  • 903 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
  • 1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS .
Hawaii published version SD1_PROPOSED

Plain English: BILL THE SENATE S.B.

  • BILL THE SENATE S.B.
  • NO.
  • 903 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
  • 1 STATE OF HAWAII Proposed A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS .

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-08 S

    Enrolled to Governor.

  2. 2026-05-08 S

    Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).

  3. 2026-05-06 H

    Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).

  4. 2026-05-06 H

    Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Alcos excused (1).

  5. 2026-05-06 S

    Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none).

  6. 2026-05-01 H

    Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.

  7. 2026-05-01 H

    Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 216-26) as amended in (CD 1).

  8. 2026-05-01 S

    48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.

  9. 2026-05-01 S

    Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 216-26).

  10. 2026-05-01 H

    The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kahaloa; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Garcia.

  11. 2026-05-01 S

    The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, Moriwaki, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  12. 2026-05-01 H

    Received notice of change in Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 810).

  13. 2026-05-01 S

    Senate Conferees Changed: Senator Moriwaki added as Co-Chair. Senator Dela Cruz discharged as Co-Chair.

  14. 2026-04-30 S

    Conference committee meeting scheduled for 05-01-26 3:50PM; Conference Room 325.

  15. 2026-04-30 H

    Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 802).

  16. 2026-04-30 S

    Senate Conferees Appointed: Richards Chair; Dela Cruz Co-Chair; DeCorte.

  17. 2026-04-28 S

    Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 840).

  18. 2026-04-27 H

    House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Kahaloa, Garcia.

  19. 2026-04-02 S

    Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).

  20. 2026-04-01 H

    House Conferee(s) discharged.

  21. 2026-03-20 H

    Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).

  22. 2026-03-20 S

    Senate Conferee(s) discharged.

  23. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  24. 2025-04-23 H

    Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-24-25 1:30PM in conference room 325.

  25. 2025-04-22 H

    Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-23-25 1:30PM in conference room 325.

  26. 2025-04-21 H

    Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-22-25 1:30PM in conference room 325.

  27. 2025-04-17 H

    Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Monday, 04-21-25 1:30PM in conference room 325.

  28. 2025-04-16 H

    Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 809).

  29. 2025-04-16 S

    Senate Conferees Appointed: Richards Chair; Hashimoto Co-Chair; Keohokalole, DeCorte.

  30. 2025-04-15 S

    Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 731).

  31. 2025-04-14 H

    House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Yamashita Co-Chairs; Holt, Poepoe, Garcia.

  32. 2025-04-10 H

    Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 779).

  33. 2025-04-10 S

    Senate disagrees with House amendments.

  34. 2025-04-10 S

    Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 661).

  35. 2025-04-08 H

    Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Hussey voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting no (7) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

  36. 2025-04-04 H

    Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-08-25.

  37. 2025-04-04 H

    Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2018) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.

  38. 2025-04-02 H

    The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Grandinetti, Hussey, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

  39. 2025-03-31 H

    Proposed draft of Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 04-02-25 3:30PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. Copy of proposed draft available at www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

  40. 2025-03-18 H

    Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).

  41. 2025-03-18 H

    Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1332) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

  42. 2025-03-14 H

    The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia.

  43. 2025-03-12 H

    Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Friday, 03-14-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  44. 2025-03-06 H

    Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19

  45. 2025-03-06 H

    Pass First Reading

  46. 2025-03-04 H

    Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 219) in amended form (SD 2).

  47. 2025-03-04 S

    Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

  48. 2025-02-27 S

    48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.

  49. 2025-02-27 S

    Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 2).

  50. 2025-02-27 S

    Reported from HWN/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 804) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 2) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.

  51. 2025-02-18 S

    The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite, Kim.

  52. 2025-02-18 S

    The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HWN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, Keohokalole, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Ihara.

  53. 2025-02-14 S

    The committee(s) on HWN/WAM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

  54. 2025-02-14 S

    Re-Referred to HWN/WAM.

  55. 2025-02-14 S

    Report adopted, as amended (SD 1) and recommitted to HWN.

  56. 2025-02-14 S

    Reported from HWN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 567) as amended (SD 1), with recommendation of recommittal to HWN.

  57. 2025-02-13 S

    The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS and be recommitted. The votes in HWN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, San Buenaventura, Keohokalole, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara.

  58. 2025-02-12 S

    The committee(s) on HWN will hold a public decision making on 02-13-25 1:10PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

  59. 2025-01-23 S

    Referred to HWN.

  60. 2025-01-21 S

    Passed First Reading.

  61. 2025-01-17 S

    Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.
Public Land Trust Working Group; OHA; Public Land Trust; Inventory; Financial Reporting and Accounting; Reports; Appropriation ($)
Amends the membership and responsibilities of the Public Land Trust Working Group established under Act 226, SLH 2022. Requires the Working Group to submit the following to the Legislature: by 8/1/2027, a first interim report regarding Act 178, SLH 2006, financial reporting and accounting; by 12/1/2027, a second interim report regarding the public land trust inventory; by 6/1/2028, a third interim report that includes a preliminary draft of findings and recommendations regarding Act 178 financial reporting and accounting and the public land trust inventory; and by 10/1/2028, a final report that includes proposed legislation. By 12/31/2028, requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to submit certain findings and considerations to the Legislature. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to provide administrative support to the Working Group in coordination with a third-party consultant. Appropriates funds from the Carry-Forward Trust Holding Account to be transferred to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to be expended solely for Native Hawaiian programs and services with critical, short-term funding needs in the areas of education, health, economic development, and community-based initiatives. Specifies that the transferred funds may not be used for planning, developing, or constructing residential or mixed-use projects or related infrastructure. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB903

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

903

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS
.

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

����
Section
1.
�
The purpose of this Act is to effectuate the
title of this Act.

����
SECTION 2.
�
The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended to
conform to the purpose of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Short
Form; Hawaiian Affairs

Description:

Short
form bill.

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