---
type: "Bill"
title: "RELATING TO WIRELESS BROADBAND FACILITIES."
description: "Establishes a process to upgrade and support next-generation wireless broadband infrastructure throughout the State. Establishes a permitting, application, review, and approval process for small wireless providers or communications service providers to install wireless facilities on state or county solely-owned utility poles, or install associated utility poles, in the right of way. Applies to permit applications filed with the State or county after December 31, 2018. (HB2651 CD1)"
jurisdiction: "us/states/hi"
legislature: "Hawaii Legislature"
session: "2018 Regular Session"
identifier: "HB 2651"
citation: "Hawaii HB 2651 (2018 Regular Session)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Wireless Facilities", "Economic Development", "State or County Solely-owned Utility Poles", "Permits"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["BROWER", "CACHOLA", "EVANS", "FUKUMOTO", "HAR", "JOHANSON", "LOPRESTI", "MIZUNO", "MORIKAWA", "NAKAMURA", "OHNO", "QUINLAN", "Say", "YAMANE"]
version_count: 4
action_count: 51
vote_count: 7
first_action: "2018-01-24"
last_action: "2018-06-22"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/b855204e-180a-4727-bcd3-a663174388e3"
source_url: "http://capitol.hawaii.gov/Archives/measure_indiv_Archives8-12.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2651&year=2018"
source_hash: "c44f028103767f051871979ceed98777a818d093081c2ad4be6bc523900b98d1"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-hi"]
---

# Hawaii HB 2651 (2018 Regular Session) — RELATING TO WIRELESS BROADBAND FACILITIES.

Establishes a process to upgrade and support next-generation wireless broadband infrastructure throughout the State. Establishes a permitting, application, review, and approval process for small wireless providers or communications service providers to install wireless facilities on state or county solely-owned utility poles, or install associated utility poles, in the right of way. Applies to permit applications filed with the State or county after December 31, 2018. (HB2651 CD1)

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **HB2651** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/bills/HB2651_.HTM)
2. **HB2651_CD1** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/bills/HB2651_CD1_.HTM)
3. **HB2651_HD1** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/bills/HB2651_HD1_.HTM)
4. **HB2651_HD2** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/bills/HB2651_HD2_.HTM)

## Votes

- The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. — **4–0** (pass) · lower
- The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. — **9–0** (pass) · upper
- The committee(s) on ETT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **3–0** (pass) · upper
- The committees on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **10–1** (pass) · lower
- The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **4–0** (pass) · upper
- The committee(s) on CPH recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **4–0** (pass) · upper
- The committees on IAC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **9–0** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- BROWER — primary (person)
- CACHOLA — primary (person)
- EVANS — primary (person)
- FUKUMOTO — primary (person)
- HAR — primary (person)
- JOHANSON — primary (person)
- LOPRESTI — primary (person)
- MIZUNO — primary (person)
- MORIKAWA — primary (person)
- NAKAMURA — primary (person)
- OHNO — primary (person)
- QUINLAN — primary (person)
- Say — primary (person)
- YAMANE — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2018-01-24** Introduced and Pass First Reading. `introduction, reading-1`
- **2018-01-29** Referred to IAC, CPC, referral sheet 9 `referral-committee`
- **2018-02-01** Bill scheduled to be heard by IAC on Tuesday, 02-06-18 10:30AM in House conference room 429.
- **2018-02-06** The committee(s) on IAC recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-14-18.
- **2018-02-09** Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 02-14-18 9:00AM in conference room 429.
- **2018-02-14** The committees on IAC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Ohno, Choy, Cachola, Fukumoto, Onishi, Woodson, Ward; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Ito, Tokioka; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) LoPresti. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-02-16** Reported from IAC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 749-18) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
- **2018-02-16** Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) DeCoite, Ing, Nakamura, Onishi, Woodson excused (5). `reading-2, referral-committee`
- **2018-02-16** Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 02-21-18 2:00PM in House conference room 329.
- **2018-02-21** The committees on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Takumi, Ichiyama, Aquino, Ito, Johanson, Mizuno, Yamane, McDermott; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) LoPresti, Tokioka; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Say; and Excused: none. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-03-02** Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1075-18) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
- **2018-03-02** Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-06-18.
- **2018-03-06** Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) DeCoite, LoPresti, Tokioka voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Say voting no (1) and Representative(s) Woodson excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. `passage`
- **2018-03-08** Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 367). `introduction`
- **2018-03-08** Passed First Reading. `reading-1`
- **2018-03-08** Referred to ETT/CPH, WAM. `referral-committee`
- **2018-03-09** The committee(s) on ETT/CPH has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-18 1:15PM in conference room 414.
- **2018-03-14** The committee(s) on ETT/CPH deferred the measure until 03-21-18 1:20PM in conference room 414.
- **2018-03-21** The committee(s) on CPH recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPH were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Baker, Tokuda, S. Chang, Ihara; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 3 Excused: Senator(s) Espero, Nishihara, Ruderman. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-03-21** The committee(s) on ETT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in ETT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Baker, L. Thielen; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Taniguchi, Galuteria. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-03-23** Reported from ETT/CPH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3169) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- **2018-03-23** Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
- **2018-04-03** The committee on WAM has added the measure to decision making scheduled on 04-05-18 10:30AM in conference room 211.
- **2018-04-05** The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 9 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Keith-Agaran, English, Galuteria, K. Kahele, Kidani, Riviere, Shimabukuro, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Harimoto, Inouye. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-04-06** Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3677) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
- **2018-04-06** One Day Notice 04-10-18.
- **2018-04-10** Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Harimoto). Transmitted to House. `passage`
- **2018-04-10** Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 757) in amended form (SD 1).
- **2018-04-12** House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
- **2018-04-13** Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 608).
- **2018-04-16** Re-referred to IAC, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 57 `referral-committee`
- **2018-04-16** House Conferees Appointed: Ohno, Takumi, Keohokalole Co-Chairs; Aquino, Woodson, Ward.
- **2018-04-16** Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 609).
- **2018-04-20** Senate Conferees Appointed: Wakai Chair; Baker, Shimabukuro Co-Chairs; S. Chang.
- **2018-04-20** Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 804).
- **2018-04-25** Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-26-18 1:30PM in conference room 423.
- **2018-04-26** Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-27-18 1:30PM in conference room 423.
- **2018-04-27** Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-27-18 at 3:00PM in Conference Room 423.
- **2018-04-27** The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Ohno, Takumi, Keohokalole, Woodson; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Aquino, Ward.
- **2018-04-27** The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Baker, Shimabukuro, S. Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-04-27** Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 178-18) as amended in (CD 1).
- **2018-04-27** Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday 05-01-18.
- **2018-04-27** Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 178-18).
- **2018-04-27** 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-18.
- **2018-05-01** Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 3 No(es): Senator(s) Baker, English, Ihara. 0 Excused: none.
- **2018-05-01** Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Takumi excused (1).
- **2018-05-01** Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 849).
- **2018-05-02** Transmitted to Governor.
- **2018-05-03** Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 705).
- **2018-06-21** Act 049, on 06/21/2018 (Gov. Msg. No. 1149). `executive-signature`
- **2018-06-22** Act 049, 06/21/2018 (Gov. Msg. No. 1149). `executive-signature`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/b855204e-180a-4727-bcd3-a663174388e3`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Hawaii legislature records).