ChangeBridge / Hawaii / HB2165 Passed HB2165 House Bill Passed 2026-03-10

Relating To The Hawaii Employment Security Law.

Amends the qualifications for unemployed individuals who are able to receive unemployment benefits. Beginning 4/1/2027, removes the two-year limitation on the recoupment of overpayments and limits the amount of overpaid amount and the penalty assessment amount that can be deducted from future benefits payable to the individual. Beginning 4/1/2027, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to assess and collect a service charge for dishonored unemployment insurance assessments. Beginning 4/1/2027, specifies that employers must report separation and wage information within five calendar days of notice being sent, whether by mail or electronic notification. Beginning 4/1/2027, increases the penalty for failure to report separations or wages and for failure to file or for filing insufficient wage reports. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Bill Details

State Hawaii

Session 2026 Regular Session

Chamber House

Official Source www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_ind...

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Sponsors

Jackson Sayama (Rep - D) Mike Lee (Rep - D)

Action History

2026-04-06 S The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C.. 2026-04-01 S The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. 2026-03-30 S Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. 2026-03-30 S The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. 2026-03-30 S Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3351) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. 2026-03-23 S The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Fevella. 2026-03-20 S The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. 2026-03-12 S Referred to LBT, WAM. 2026-03-12 S Passed First Reading. 2026-03-12 S Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 372). 2026-03-10 H Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran, Grandinetti, Kapela, Perruso, Reyes Oda, Shimizu, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Amato, Garcia, Gedeon, Hussey, Iwamoto, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Poepoe voting no (10) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate. 2026-03-06 H Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26. 2026-03-06 H Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1053-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. 2026-03-04 H The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Iwamoto; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick. 2026-03-03 H Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 03-04-26 2:00PM in conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-03-03 H The committee(s) on CPC recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-04-26. 2026-02-27 H Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-02-17 H Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with Representative(s) Garcia, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3). 2026-02-17 H Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 281-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC. 2026-02-10 H The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and Excused: none. 2026-02-05 H Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 02-10-26 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-01-30 H Referred to LAB, CPC, referral sheet 5 2026-01-28 H Introduced and Pass First Reading. 2026-01-26 H Pending introduction.

Votes

2026-03-23 Senate Labor and Technology: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 3 Nay: 0 2026-04-06 Senate Ways and Means: Passed, Unamended Yea: 12 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-30 H Labor & Public Employment 2026-02-17 H Consumer Protection & Commerce 2026-03-12 S Labor and Technology 2026-03-30 S Ways and Means

Bill Text Versions

2026-01-26 Introduced 2026-02-13 Amended 2026-03-06 Amended 2026-03-28 Amended

Subjects

DLIR Hawaii Employment Security Law Unemployment Benefits Recovery of Benefits Assessments Records and Reports Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)