Hawaii SCR55: Supporting the Findings and Recommendations of the Hawai I Water Safety Coalition's Hawai I Water Safety Plan.

What the bill says

From the introduced text:

THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 STATE OF HAWAII MAR 1 0 2026 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HAWAI'I WATER SAFETY COALITION'S HAWAI'I WATER SAFETY PLAN. WHEREAS, the State is in the midst of a drowning crisis, ranking second behind Alaska in the number of annual drowning fatalities per one million residents; and WHEREAS, drowning is the leading cause of death for children in the State between ages one and fifteen, with twentysix children lost between 2019 and 2023; and WHEREAS, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders comprise approximately twenty-seven percent of the State's population but thirty-six percent of drowning deaths, reflecting significant inequities in access to swimming education and water safety resources; and WHEREAS, visitors make up less than fifteen percent of the State's average daily population but comprise the majority of drowning victims, with snorkeling accounting for ninety-one percent of visitor ocean drownings; and WHEREAS, drowning incidents involving visitors threaten both the State's public health and its more than $20 billion tourism economy; and WHEREAS, drowning is the leading cause of injury-related visitor deaths in the State; and WHEREAS, non-fatal drownings, which occur at more than twice the rate of fatal drownings, often result in permanent brain damage and lifelong impacts for families; and WHEREAS, the Hawai'i Water Safety Coalition (HWSC), formed in …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Glenn Wakai (D, 15) · primary sponsor
• Brandon Elefante (D, 16)
• Lorraine Inouye (D, 1)
• Tim Richards (D, SD-004)
• Joy San Buenaventura (D, 2)
• Les Ihara (D, 10)
• Dru Kanuha (D, 3)

Latest actions

1. May 12, 2026: Certified copies of resolutions sent, 05-12-26.
2. April 28, 2026: Resolution adopted in final form.
3. April 28, 2026: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 848).
4. April 27, 2026: Transmitted to Senate.
5. April 27, 2026: Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
6. April 27, 2026: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2274-26), recommending adoption.
7. April 23, 2026: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Ratcliffe, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa, Perruso, Alcos.
8. April 21, 2026: Scheduled for decision making on Thursday, 04-23-26 10:00AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
9. April 20, 2026: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Woodson excused (3).
10. April 20, 2026: Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2185-26), recommending referral to FIN.

Votes

• Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0) (April 27, 2026): 51 yea, 0 nay, passed
• FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 23, 2026): 14 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Woodson excused (3) (April 20, 2026): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
• WAL: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 16, 2026): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
• PSM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 6, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SCR55?

SCR55 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Supporting the Findings and Recommendations of the Hawai I Water Safety Coalition's Hawai I Water Safety Plan.

What is the status of SCR55?

Passed both chambers as of April 28, 2026. Latest action: Certified copies of resolutions sent, 05-12-26. (May 12, 2026).

Who sponsored SCR55?

Glenn Wakai (D, 15), with 6 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SCR55?

On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SCR&billnumber=55&year=2026