Joy San Buenaventura

Voted for Senate Bill 897, which caps what an electric utility must pay for property damage after a catastrophic wildfire that its equipment may have caused or made worse. A wildfire counts as catastrophic if it substantially damages or destroys more than 500 homes or businesses, or more than 50 for an electric cooperative. The Public Utilities Commission sets the cap by rule, and the governor must approve the rule. A utility gets the cap only if it has an approved wildfire prevention plan and is carrying it out. The cap covers property losses only, not injuries or emotional harm. Utilities also stop being liable for other parties' shares of the damage. The act lets utilities sell up to $500 million in bonds for wildfire and storm-proofing work, repaid through a charge on every customer's bill. Utility executives cannot get raises unless the utility's wildfire reports are approved for five straight years. The Hawaii Senate gave it final approval 20-5, and it became law. Hawaii's journal names only members voting no or excused, so this yes vote is inferred from that list.

April 30, 2025Opposes Corporate Accountability

Source: capitol.hawaii.gov · researched September 10, 2026

On 2025-04-17, Hawaii Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura was named Senate conference-committee chair for House Bill 139, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, with Keohokalole and Moriwaki as co-chairs for the House side.

April 17, 2025

Source: data.capitol.hawaii.gov · researched September 9, 2026

On 2025-04-17, Hawaii Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura chaired the Senate conference delegation for Senate Bill 228, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, with Elefante and Chang as House co-chairs.

April 17, 2025

Source: data.capitol.hawaii.gov · researched September 9, 2026

On 2024-02-15, as chair of the Hawaii Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Joy A. San Buenaventura signed the committee report recommending Senate Bill 3127 pass Second Reading and proceed to the Judiciary Committee.

February 15, 2024

Source: data.capitol.hawaii.gov · researched September 9, 2026

Voted against House Bill 2023, which sets up a state program for speed-limiting devices in cars. The devices warn a driver, or keep the car from going over the speed limit. The Department of Transportation will certify them and pick one vendor to install them. Starting in 2028, a driver whose license is suspended for excessive speeding may keep driving a car fitted with the device, at the driver's own cost. A judge may allow the same after a street racing conviction. Tampering with a device is a misdemeanor. Driving without a required device carries at least three days in jail. The Hawaii Senate gave it final approval 20-5, and it became law.

May 6, 2026

Source: capitol.hawaii.gov · researched September 10, 2026

Voted against Senate Bill 2697, which bans driving on the shoulder of a road. The Department of Transportation may allow it at set hours. The fine is $250, or $1,000 for a repeat within five years. The act also changes when a car can be seized for unpaid registration taxes. Seizure is now allowed only when the taxes are a year or more overdue, and owners get 30 days instead of 10 to reclaim the car. Owners who bring a car from another state and do not register it face a $500 to $1,000 fine. Misusing a carpool lane now costs $250 to $1,000, up from $75 to $200. The Hawaii Senate gave it final approval 20-5, and it became law.

May 6, 2026

Source: capitol.hawaii.gov · researched September 10, 2026

Voted against Senate Bill 97, which makes a third excessive speeding offense within five years a misdemeanor. Excessive speeding means 30 miles per hour or more over the limit, or 80 miles per hour or more. A third offense now carries a mandatory 30 days in jail and loss of the license for 90 days to six months. The court may also order the car forfeited. Probation is not allowed. The act also lets automated speed cameras ticket any speeding violation, not only driving at least five miles per hour over the limit. The Hawaii Senate gave it final approval 18-7, and it became law.

May 2, 2025

Source: capitol.hawaii.gov · researched September 10, 2026

Voted against House Bill 137, which requires prison time for a felon caught with a gun or ammunition if the earlier felony was a violent crime. Under the old law this was a class B felony, but a judge could still give probation. The act makes the prison term set by state law for the offense mandatory. There is no probation or suspended sentence. It took effect when the governor signed it on April 10, 2025. The Hawaii Senate passed it 15-10, and it became law.

March 31, 2025

Source: capitol.hawaii.gov · researched September 10, 2026