CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 144-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1838

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1838, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VISAS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish uniform statewide requirements for policies and processes for the issuance of U or T visa certifications;

(2) Require each state and county certifying entity to adopt a policy and process for the issuance of U or T visa certifications; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the Department of the Attorney General to provide training to certifying entities and certifying officials on all federal and state requirements for U or T visa certifications.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the requirement for the Department of the Attorney General to ensure that the Department's training is eligible for continuing legal education credits and professional development credits and made available to all certifying entities and certifying officials;

(2) Removing the appropriation;

(3) Changing the effective date to upon approval; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1838, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1838, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair	____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN Co-Chair
____________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE Co-Chair	____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair
	____________________________ IKAIKA HUSSEY Co-Chair