Bill > SB55

This bill requires all state agencies in Hawaii to make their proposed and existing rules digitally accessible and searchable on the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's website, with a specific focus on meeting or exceeding the accessibility standards outlined in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Starting January 1, 2027, state agencies must publish the full text of their rules in a format that ensures people with disabilities can easily access and navigate the information, which means the digital documents will need to be compatible with assistive technologies like screen readers. The bill amends two existing sections of Hawaii Revised Statutes (91-2.6 and 91-4) to mandate these changes, which will help improve public access to government regulations and ensure that rule information is more readily available to all citizens, including those with disabilities. Interestingly, while the bill is designed to take effect in 2027, the actual effective date listed in the bill is January 1, 2525, which appears to be a typographical error.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=55&year=2026