Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 109: RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.
Passed both chambers Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 109 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 9, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE. Primary sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Joy San Buenaventura (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (April 2, 2026): Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
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.
Requires that the Hawaiian version of a law be held binding if the law in question was originally drafted in Hawaiian and meets certain criteria. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Rhoads | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 13 |
| Joy San Buenaventura | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 2 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
- House Conferee(s) discharged.
- Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 731).
- House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas Chair; Poepoe, Garcia.
- Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 570).
- Senate disagrees with House amendments.
- Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 774).
- Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela, Marten excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.
- Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1748) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
- Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
- The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
Showing 12 most recent of 29 actions. Full history