STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3756

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2088

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2088 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADOPTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to add the requirement that a written consent to adoption be notarized.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary and the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that under existing law, there is no notary requirement for written consents in adoption cases. Consequently, situations involving fraudulent consents may arise. This measure will strengthen the integrity of adoption proceedings and reduce the risk of disputes and legal challenges, ensuring more permanency for the children involved.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2088, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair