STAND. COM. REP. NO. 197-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2263

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 2263 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY FAMILIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize an eligible employee to take family leave for a qualifying military exigency under state law.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Hawaiʻi National Guard; Military and Community Relations Office; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the families of active-duty members of the military face unique stresses and demands, such as deployments on short notice, relocation orders, and mandatory briefings. Aligning state law with established federal standards provides clarity for employers, consistency for employees, and ensures that Hawaii's military families receive the same baseline protections already available elsewhere. Your Committee further finds that this measure represents a reasonable, targeted approach that reflects the realities of military life and demonstrates Hawaii's continued support for members of the armed forces and their families.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2263, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2263, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair