CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 191-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2671

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2671, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ESSENTIAL PERMITTING POSITIONS,"

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 mayor of each county with a population of less than five hundred thousand to implement a pilot program to improve the speed, accountability, and quality of permit processing within that county through targeted staffing, performance incentives, and interdepartmental competition;

(2) Authorize increased pay for certain permitting positions and require county personnel departments to prioritize the hiring of permitting positions as part of the pilot program;

(3) Require participating county mayors and county agencies to establish goals for the pilot program; and

(4) Require participating county agencies to submit quarterly reports to the respective county councils on the pilot program.

Your Committee on Conference finds that establishing a pilot program that empowers counties to streamline permitting operations through targeted staffing, performance incentives, and interdepartmental coordination will address a key element that delays permitting processes throughout the State. This measure will improve the speed, accountability, and quality of permit processing in county departments, therefore improving housing stability and accessibility.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have prohibited a county with a population of five hundred thousand or more from participating in the pilot program;

(2) Clarifying that only counties with a population of five hundred thousand or less may utilize moneys collected from the county surcharge on state tax to fund the positions subject to the pilot program;

(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

(4) Making it effective on July 1, 2026.

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 S.B. No. 2671, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2671, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN Co-Chair	____________________________ GLENN WAKAI Chair
____________________________ JACKSON D. SAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ TROY N. HASHIMOTO Co-Chair
____________________________ IKAIKA HUSSEY Co-Chair