CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 153-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2474

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

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. 2474, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS,"

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) Authorize the State to enter into nonbinding international cooperative agreements with national governments; national ministries, departments, or agencies; provincial or regional governments; or international intergovernmental bodies relevant to the interests of the State or an international partner;

(2) Expand the definition of sister-state or province partnerships to include a partnership between the State and a prefecture or foreign nation; and

(3) Require the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission to evaluate how a sister-state or province partnership or international cooperative agreement will enhance certain key state initiatives.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2026; and

(2) 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. 2474, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2474, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ CHRIS LEE Chair	____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN Co-Chair
____________________________ LYNN DECOITE Co-Chair	____________________________ IKAIKA HUSSEY Co-Chair
____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair