STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2256

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2354

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Economic Development and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2354 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to make contact information for newly registered business entities available online and send their contact information to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Business Development and Support Division.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; and Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committees find that small businesses play an important role in the State's economy. Your Committees further find that it can be challenging for these small businesses to connect with available State resources and support, such as grants, loans, training opportunities, and economic data. This measure would facilitate better access to resources for small businesses by enabling the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to access business registrant contact information to promote its services and communicate with businesses.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Economic Development and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2354, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2354, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Economic Development and Tourism,

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair