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Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

SB 709: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Passed both chambers 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

SB 709 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 17, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH. Primary sponsor: Joy San Buenaventura (Democratic), AQUINO, Stanley Chang (Democratic), Kurt Fevella (Republican), Troy Hashimoto (Democratic), Dru Kanuha (Democratic), Angus McKelvey (Democratic), Sharon Moriwaki (Democratic), Karl Rhoads (Democratic). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (April 16, 2026): Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 605).

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 the Director of Law Enforcement to adopt rules establishing training and certification standards and procedures for crisis intervention officers. Requires the Department of Health to approve the content of such training. Clarifies the scope of treatment permitted under assisted community treatment orders. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to assist with the preparation, filing, and presentation of requests for a court order to provide treatment over a patient's objection. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 8 · Republican 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Joy San BuenaventuraPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate2
AQUINOPrimary sponsorNot applicable (committee)——
Stanley ChangPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate9
Kurt FevellaPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate20
Troy HashimotoPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate5
Dru KanuhaPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate3
Angus McKelveyPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate6
Sharon MoriwakiPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate12
Karl RhoadsPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate13
Carol FukunagaCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate11

“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. Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 605).
  2. Senate disagrees with House amendments.
  3. Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
  4. Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos, Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
  5. Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2125-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
  6. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
  7. The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Cochran.
  8. Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 04-08-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
  9. Reported from HSH/HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1432-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
  10. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Alcos voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Matsumoto, Perruso excused (2).
  11. The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Amato; and Excused: none.
  12. The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Hartsfield, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Amato; and Excused: none.

Showing 12 most recent of 30 actions. Full history

Sources

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