STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3644

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1838

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1838, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VISAS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the use of U and T visas and ensure that vulnerable individuals may come forward without fear to assist law enforcement agencies and contribute meaningfully to society.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes uniform statewide requirements for the issuance of U and T visa certifications for noncitizen victims of crime that are consistent with federal laws and regulations governing U and T visas;

(2) Requires each state and county certifying entity to adopt a policy and process for the issuance of U and T visa certifications, consistent with those statewide requirements; and

(3) Appropriates 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 and T visa certifications.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, UNITE HERE Local 5, Roots Reborn Maui, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, The Legal Clinic, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the complexity of immigration issues hinders the use of U and T visas intended to encourage victims of certain crimes to assist law enforcement agencies by providing the victims with legal status, work authorization, and a pathway to permanent residency. Your Committee further finds that uniform policies for and training of individuals involved in the U and T visa process will help support the use of U and T visas.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1838, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair