State Construction Manager Pilot Program Established in Hawaii

Detected April 8th, 2026

Summary

The Hawaii State Legislature has passed SB2543, establishing a five-year State Construction Manager Pilot Program administered by the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Education. The program assigns state employees to county agencies to review and approve permit applications for certain state construction projects. A new Design Review Special Fund is created with appropriated funds to support the program and necessary positions.

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What changed

SB2543 establishes a five-year State Construction Manager Pilot Program that centralizes design review for certain state construction projects administered by the Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Education. The Office of the State Construction Manager will assign employees to county agencies to review and approve permit applications, with a new Design Review Special Fund created to support program operations and staffing.

Construction firms and design professionals working on affected state projects will need to coordinate with the new program structure for design reviews and permit approvals. Educational institutions undergoing construction projects through the Department of Education will be subject to the pilot program's design review requirements. Government agencies administering construction projects should prepare for enhanced coordination with state construction managers assigned under the program.

What to do next

Monitor for program implementation details from the Department of Accounting and General Services
Review internal procedures for state construction project design review submissions
Ensure compliance with new permit application review processes under the pilot program

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Hawaii / SB2543 Passed SB2543 Senate Bill Passed 2026-03-10

Relating To State Construction Projects.

Establishes a five-year Office of the State Construction Manager Pilot Program to provide guidance and recommendations on the design review of certain state construction projects administered by the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Education. Requires the Office to assign employees to the certain county agencies to review and approve permit applications under the Pilot Program. Establishes the Design Review Special Fund. Appropriates funds for the Pilot Program and necessary positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill Details

State Hawaii

Session 2026 Regular Session

Chamber Senate

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

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Action History

2026-04-07 H The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield, Perruso, Alcos; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa. 2026-04-02 H Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-04-02 H The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26. 2026-03-31 H Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-03-30 H Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4). 2026-03-30 H Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1525-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN. 2026-03-24 H The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Poepoe, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Shimizu; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti. 2026-03-20 H Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 03-24-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-03-20 H Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). 2026-03-20 H Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1255-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL. 2026-03-19 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, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. 2026-03-16 H Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Thursday, 03-19-26 9:35AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-03-12 H Referred to LAB, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 17 2026-03-12 H Pass First Reading 2026-03-10 H Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 258) in amended form (SD 2). 2026-03-10 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. 2026-03-05 S 48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26. 2026-03-05 S Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2786) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). 2026-03-02 S The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. 2026-02-25 S The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-02-26 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. 2026-02-23 S The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:55AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. 2026-02-20 S Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. 2026-02-20 S Reported from GVO/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2593) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. 2026-02-10 S The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, Richards, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite. 2026-02-10 S The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Hashimoto, Moriwaki, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. 2026-02-03 S The committee(s) on GVO/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. 2026-01-28 S Referred to GVO/EIG, WAM. 2026-01-23 S Passed First Reading. 2026-01-23 S Introduced.

Votes

2026-02-10 Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 4 Nay: 0 2026-02-10 Senate Government Operations: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 5 Nay: 0 2026-03-02 Senate Ways and Means: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 13 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-28 S Government Operations 2026-02-20 S Ways and Means 2026-03-12 H Labor & Public Employment 2026-03-20 H Water & Land 2026-03-30 H Finance

Bill Text Versions

2026-01-22 Introduced 2026-02-19 Amended 2026-03-04 Amended 2026-03-19 Amended 2026-03-27 Amended

Subjects

Appropriation ($) DAGS DOE Office of the State Construction Manager Pilot Program Design Review Special Fund Positions Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)