CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 226-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2907

S.D. 1

H.D. 3

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. 2907, S.D. 1, H.D. 3, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARINE AFFAIRS,"

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) Declare that the State is an ocean cluster;

(2) Establish the Office of Marine Affairs and Marine Affairs Governing Board within the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation;

(3) Establish and appropriate funds for the Marine Affairs Coordinator position;

(4) Repeal the powers and duties of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism over marine affairs; and

(5) Transfer the employees and functions of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs to the Office of Marine Affairs.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the State is well-positioned to capitalize on the projected growth of the global ocean economy, or blue economy, due to its geographic position, world-class ocean research assets, and talented local workforce; however, it lacks a coordinated strategic framework to drive its actions. This measure implements a sustainable, culturally respectful, integrated framework for pursuing economic growth and technological innovation through the blue economy.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, rather than the Governor, shall set the salary of the Marine Affairs Coordinator;

(2) Deleting language that would have appropriated an unspecified amount to be expended by the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation for the purpose of funding one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Marine Affairs Coordinator position;

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

(4) Making it effective on July 1, 2026; and

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

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. 2907, S.D. 1, H.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2907, S.D. 1, H.D. 3, 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	____________________________ LYNN DECOITE Chair
____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Co-Chair
____________________________ IKAIKA HUSSEY Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair