STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2121

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2245

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2245 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REVOLVING DOOR RESTRICTIONS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit new state employees from taking official action on matters they worked on before state employment for two years; and

(2) Prohibit former permanent employees of the Office of the Governor and Office of the Lieutenant Governor from representing persons or businesses for a period of twelve months after termination from state employment.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai'i State Ethics Commission and League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that new state employees who previously worked on matters for private businesses or sources may reduce the public's confidence in the state governments assurance that all state employees make decisions solely in the interest of the public due to the possibility of favoritism for a previous employer. Your Committee further finds that existing law that prohibits former state employees from representing persons and businesses for a fee or other consideration on legislative or administrative actions for twelve months post-employment does not apply to employees of the Office of the Governor and Office of the Lieutenant Governor. By establishing a two-year "cooling off" period for new state employees and extending the twelve-month post-employment prohibition to permanent employees of the Office of the Governor and Office of the Lieutenant Governor, this measure helps prevent the actual, perceived, and appearance of favoritism.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2245 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor and Technology,

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BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair