Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii SB2961: Relating to Insurance.
Status: In committee, May 1, 2026
Requires homeowners insurance policies to permit an insured who sustains a total loss to apply additional living expenses benefits toward the purchase or lease of a housing unit to serve as the insured's temporary primary residence. Requires insurers to pay an advance of at least 4 months of additional living expenses benefits after a total loss to an insured's primary dwelling caused by a covered peril that occurred pursuant to a state of emergency. Requires homeowners insurance policies to provide additional living expenses benefits for a minimum of 36 months in the event of a total loss that occurred during a state of emergency. Provides for extensions of additional living expenses benefits under certain conditions.
What the bill says
A bill foran act relating to insurance.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FORAN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State faces unique and extraordinary challenges in responding to and recovering from catastrophic events due to its geographic isolation, preexisting housing shortage, high cost of living, and reliance on limited and fragile supply chains for construction materials. These factors have complicated the State's recovery from recent disasters. For example, the August 2023 Maui wildfires destroyed thousands of homes and displaced families for extended periods of time. Even now, more than two years later, many survivors of the Maui wildfires remain without permanent housing. The devastation caused by the Maui wildfires highlighted the State's extreme vulnerability to major disasters and underscored the need for the State to proactively strengthen disaster recovery policies, improve housing resiliency, and ensure that every island is prepared to respond to future 2026-1015 SB2961 SD1 SMA.docx HHHuAMu Page 2 2961 S.B. NO. S.D. catastrophes, including wildfires, hurricanes, tsunami, floods, and volcanic eruptions. The legislature further finds that, although federal and state disaster housing programs may provide temporary relief following disasters, they are insufficient to meet the long-term needs of displaced families, especially families facing rebuilding delays due to supply chain disruptions or workface shortages. Further complicating recovery is the fact that many survivors of natural disasters are underinsured and thus are unable to …
Sponsors
- Angus McKelvey (D, 6) · primary sponsor
- Stanley Chang (D, 9)
- Kurt Fevella (R, 20)
- Carol Fukunaga (D, 11)
- Lorraine Inouye (D, 1)
Latest actions
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:30 PM; Conference Room 224.
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 2:30PM; Conference Room 224.
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 2:30PM; Conference Room 224.
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 2:30PM; CR 224.
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 2:30PM; Conference Room 224.
- : Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Monday, 04-27-26 2:30PM in conference room 224.
- : Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 740).
- : Senate Conferees Appointed: Keohokalole Chair; Wakai Co-Chair; Awa.
- : Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).
- : House Conferees Appointed: Matayoshi, Yamashita Co-Chairs; Pierick.
Votes
- Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0) (April 14, 2026): 51 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 7, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4) (March 30, 2026): 47 yea, 0 nay, passed
- CPC: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 25, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading (March 6, 2026): 24 yea, 0 nay, passed
- WAM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (March 3, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Housing, Penalties, Insurance, Prohibition
Common questions
- What is SB2961?
- SB2961 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Insurance.
- What does SB2961 do?
- In its own words: A bill foran act relating to insurance.
- What is the status of SB2961?
- In committee as of May 1, 2026. Latest action: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:30 PM; Conference Room 224. (May 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB2961?
- Angus McKelvey (D, 6), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB2961?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2961&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.