Pending Legislation
Senate Resolution 36: Office of the State Architects Case Study
Introduced: Stanley Chang (D-09)
Summary: The resolution requests the Department of Accounting and General Services to conduct a study on the costs and benefits of creating an Office of the State Architect.
Design-Build Impact: This could further organize construction at the state level and could even incentivize more state construction projects that are design-build in nature.
Last Action: March 31, 2026: The bill has been sent to the SENATE Committee on GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. The bill had a hearing on March 31. A measure on this bill has been deferred in committee.
Status: Introduced
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Medium
Senate Bill 2064: Office of the State Architect
Introduced: Stanley Chang (D-09)
Summary: The Office of the State Architect is established within the Department of Accounting and General Services and directed by the State Architect appointed by the Governor. The state architect would be required to organize, manage, and oversee the design review of all state construction projects and to issue design approvals for traditional design bid build state construction projects. Another requirement would be to create an annual report to the Governor and Legislature. The bill also authorizes the Department of Accounting and General Services to oversee design review.
Design-Build Impact: Design approvals from the Office of the State Architect for state construction projects that would be classified as design bid-build projects would be required, however design-build projects would be exempt from this requirement.
Last Action: February 12, 2026: The bill was referred to the SENATE Committee on WAYS and MEANS. The bill remains in Committee where a measure has been deferred.
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Medium
Senate Bill 2075: Public Procurement
Introduced: Senator Glenn Wakai (D-15)
Summary: This bill relates to public procurement and proposes to establish a local preference system for Hawaii bidders and offerors in state procurement processes. The bill would create a five percent evaluation preference for qualified Hawaii bidders in competitive sealed bidding and Hawaii offerors in competitive sealed proposals, subject to specific conditions and limitations with the goal of strengthening Hawaii’s local economy.
Design-Build Impact: The Hawaii bidders and offerors will both be able to continue having access to and procuring design-build services under this bill.
Last Action: March 25, 2026: The bill has gone through the SENATE Committee on WAYS and MEANS and has now been read three times, passing through the SENATE and into the HOUSE. The bill has been assigned to the HOUSE Committee on ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and TECHNOLOGY and had a public hearing on March 20. The bill has been voted as do pass with amendment by the committee. The bill has been voted as do pass as amended (HD1). The bill was formally read a second time, where HD1 was adopted. The bill has now been assigned to the HOUSE Committee on FINANCE.
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Low