Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii SB2671: Relating to Essential Permitting Positions.
Status: Signed into law, June 9, 2026
Establishes a pilot program to improve the speed, accountability, and quality of permit processing through targeted staffing, performance incentives, and interdepartmental competition within participating counties. Authorizes a mayor to designate any number of positions as essential permitting positions across departments involved in permit review, permit processing, or both. Authorizes the payment of a minimum differential payment to assist in employee recruitment and retention. Authorizes the hiring of essential permitting positions at salaries above the minimum salary within the approved salary range. Requires personnel departments to prioritize the hiring of individuals into essential permitting positions over other positions. Authorizes counties to use revenues from the county surcharge on state tax pursuant to pay for pilot program expenses. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to essential permitting positions.
From the enrolled text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ESSENTIAL PERMITTING POSITIONS. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's permitting process has long been a source of frustration for residents, developers, and government agencies. High vacancy rates, outdated systems, and fragmented workflows have led to significant delays in housing and infrastructure development. Recent legislative actions have attempted to address permitting delays, including Act 295, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, which established requirements and procedures for permit applicants to apply for an expedited permit if sixty days have lapsed after a permit application was deemed complete by a relevant agency, and Act 133, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, which established the Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development task force to identify legislative measures necessary to facilitate, expedite, and coordinate state and intergovernmental development permit processes. The legislature believes that additional reform is urgently needed. 2026-2349 SB2671 GDI SMA.docx MHiiiiiiiiiiHigiiniinniiiu Page 2 S.B. NO. 2671 S.D. H.D. C.D. The legislature further finds that one proven strategy to improve recruitment and retention for hard-to-fill government roles is offering differential pay. The department of education implemented shortage differentials of up to $10,000 for special education, Hawaiian immersion, and other hard-to-staff teaching positions. These incentives led to a thirty-five per cent reduction in unlicensed special education teachers and significantly improved staffing stability. Similar models have been used …
Sponsors
- Troy Hashimoto (D, 5) · primary sponsor
- Lamosao, Rachele (D, 19)
- Chris Lee (D, 25)
- Sharon Moriwaki (D, 12)
- Glenn Wakai (D, 15)
Latest actions
- : Act 119, on 06/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1219).
- : Act 119, 06/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1219).
- : Enrolled to Governor.
- : Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
- : Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
- : Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran voting no (1) and none excused (0).
- : Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
- : Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- : Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 191-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- : 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
Votes
- Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1) (May 6, 2026): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran voting no (1) and none excused (0) (May 6, 2026): 50 yea, 1 nay, passed
- none. (May 1, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Conference Committee Vote (May 1, 2026): 2 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1) (April 9, 2026): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 7, 2026): 15 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Essential Permitting Positions, Housing, DOE, Counties, Reports
Common questions
- What is SB2671?
- SB2671 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Essential Permitting Positions.
- What does SB2671 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to essential permitting positions.
- What is the status of SB2671?
- Signed into law as of June 9, 2026. Latest action: Act 119, on 06/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1219). (June 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB2671?
- Troy Hashimoto (D, 5), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB2671?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2671&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.