Informing the Legislature that on May 28, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB2727 HD1 CD1 (ACT 056).

2026 Regular Session

Extends the Civil Rights Commission complaint deadline to one year from the discrimination date or last occurrence in a pattern.

Received.

#act056

Summary of SB2727 CD1 (Act 056) – Hawaii, 2026

Purpose and intent

The bill extends the statute of limitations for filing complaints of unlawful discrimination with Hawaii’s Civil Rights Commission.

Goal: provide a longer, more reasonable timeframe for individuals to recognize, report, and seek redress for discriminatory practices, reflecting Hawaii’s values of fairness, dignity, and inclusion.

Key provisions and changes

Section 1: Legislative findings affirm Hawaii’s commitment to civil rights and explain the rationale for extending the filing window.

Section 2: Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes § 368-11(C) to change the filing deadline.

The current deadline is replaced with a one-year period.
A complaint must be filed within one year after: 1) The date the alleged unlawful discriminatory practice occurred; or 2) The last occurrence in a pattern of ongoing discriminatory practice.

Section 3: Repeals and replaces the prior bracketed language with underscored new statutory text (i.e., formal codification of the one-year limit).

Section 4: Effective date of the act is upon approval (immediate effect after signing).

Who would be affected

Individuals who believe they experienced unlawful discrimination in Hawaii, including discrimination based on protected characteristics under state law, and who would file with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.

Employers, organizations, and agencies in Hawaii subject to state civil rights law, as the extended deadline could affect the timing of investigations and potential remedies.

Procedural and timeline aspects

The act took effect upon the Governor’s approval on May 28, 2026 (Act 056).

Filing window: complaints must be filed within one year from either the occurrence date or the final date in a pattern of ongoing discrimination.

This represents a shift from the previous longer, specific timeline to a more standardized one-year limit.

Context and impact considerations

Aligns with the state’s civil rights commitments by broadening access to remedies, particularly for individuals who may not immediately recognize discriminatory practices.

May impact defendants by shortening or clarifying the time frame for complaints and potential defenses related to timeliness.

Administrative impact on the Civil Rights Commission includes changes to complaint intake timelines and related processing.

Additional notes

The bill was introduced as SB 2727, HD 1, CD 1, and approved by the Governor on May 28, 2026 (Act 056).

The text indicates the change is codified in Section 368-11(C) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.