Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB2455: Relating to Employment Practices.
Status: In committee, April 23, 2026
Requires certain employers to provide unpaid and paid leave of absence for victims of workplace violence or threat of workplace violence. Expands the type of certification an employee may provide to an employer if the leave exceeds five days per calendar year.
What the bill says
A bill foran act relating to employment practices.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FORAN ACT RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that workplace violence, harassment, and credible threats against employees have increased across multiple sectors nationwide and in Hawaii, with educators and school-based employees experiencing a particularly acute rise in threatening and intimidating behavior in recent years. The legislature further finds that teachers, administrators, counselors, and other school officials increasingly report being subjected to harassment, stalking, intimidation, and threats of physical harm arising out of their employment, including threats made on campus, during school-related activities, and through work-related communications. These incidents have been widely reported and have required some employees to seek temporary restraining orders, injunctions for protection, or other legal remedies to ensure their personal safety and the safety of others in the workplace. 2026-1886 HB2455 SDl SMA.docx ■iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniii Page H.B. NO. E The legislature recognizes that while employers may take steps to address inappropriate or threatening conduct, employees who are the direct targets of workplace violence or credible threats often bear the immediate burden of protecting themselves through court proceedings, meetings with law enforcement, and consultations with attorneys or victim services organizations. These actions frequently occur during working hours and may require short-term absences from work at critical moments when safety concerns are most acute. The legislature finds that existing law provides unpaid leave protections for …
Sponsors
- Trish La Chica (D, 37) · primary sponsor
- Terez Amato (D, 11)
- Hartsfield, Daisy (D, 36)
- Susan Keohokapu-Lee Loy (D, 2)
- Lisa Marten (D, 51)
- Daynette Morikawa (D, HD-017)
- Mahina Poepoe (D, 13)
- Julie Reyes Oda (R, 40)
- Gregg Takayama (D, 34)
Latest actions
- : Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 810).
- : House Conferees Appointed: Sayama, Tarnas, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Reyes Oda.
- : Re-referred to LAB, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 32
- : Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).
- : House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
- : Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 693) in amended form (SD 1).
- : Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
- : One Day Notice 04-14-26.
- : Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3778) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
- : The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
Votes
- Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading (April 14, 2026): 22 yea, 3 nay, passed
- WAM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 8, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- JDC: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 8, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- LBT: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 23, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (3) and none excused (0) (March 10, 2026): 48 yea, 3 nay, passed
- JHA: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 3, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Employment Practices, Prohibition
Common questions
- What is HB2455?
- HB2455 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Employment Practices.
- What does HB2455 do?
- In its own words: A bill foran act relating to employment practices.
- What is the status of HB2455?
- In committee as of April 23, 2026. Latest action: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 810). (April 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2455?
- Trish La Chica (D, 37), with 8 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2455?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2455&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.