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Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 2398: RELATING TO LIBRARIES.

Passed one chamber Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 2398 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii House on January 27, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO LIBRARIES. Primary sponsor: Justin Woodson (Democratic), Terez Amato (Democratic), Cory Chun (Democratic), Andrew Garrett (Democratic), Darius Kila (Democratic), Matthias Kusch (Democratic), Nicole Lowen (Democratic), Lisa Marten (Democratic), Tyson Miyake (Democratic), Amy Perruso (Democratic), Mahina Poepoe (Democratic), Julie Reyes Oda (Republican), Gregg Takayama (Democratic), Jenna Takenouchi (Democratic), Adrian Tam (Democratic), David Tarnas (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (March 30, 2026): Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3265) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Clarifies that the Board of Education, through the State Librarian, has exclusive authority over the development, use, support, and improvement and maintenance of public library system facilities. Allows the Board of Education to authorize the State Librarian to exercise exclusive control of certain land for development or expansion purposes, subject to legislative appropriation. Requires the Department of Education to expeditiously cooperate with the State Librarian and Hawaii State Public Library System to effectuate any project authorized by the Board of Education on certain lands. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 15 · Republican 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Justin WoodsonPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse9
Terez AmatoPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse11
Cory ChunPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse35
Andrew GarrettPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse22
Darius KilaPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse44
Matthias KuschPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse1
Nicole LowenPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse7
Lisa MartenPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse51
Tyson MiyakePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse10
Amy PerrusoPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse46
Mahina PoepoePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse13
Julie Reyes OdaPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse40
Gregg TakayamaPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse34
Jenna TakenouchiPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse27
Adrian TamPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse24
David TarnasPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse8

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3265) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
  2. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
  3. The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Fukunaga.
  4. The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
  5. Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 209).
  6. Passed First Reading.
  7. Referred to EDU, WAM.
  8. Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 952-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  9. Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
  10. The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
  11. Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 03-04-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
  12. Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 493-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

Showing 12 most recent of 18 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source