THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3332

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO STATE-FUNDED TRAVEL.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State is entering a period of fiscal uncertainty marked by slowing revenue growth, reductions in federal support, rising costs of government operations, and increasing demands on limited public resources.  Given these circumstances, prudent stewardship of taxpayer funds requires discipline, restraint, and careful prioritization of expenditures.

     The legislature further finds that state-funded travel for conferences, forums, and professional development, while often beneficial, must be closely scrutinized to ensure that it is essential, cost-effective, and aligned with the State's highest priorities.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to emphasize efficiency, accountability, and resourcefulness in the use of public funds during austere fiscal times by temporarily requiring each state agency to submit annual reports of its state-funded travel to certain committees of the legislature.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  Each state agency shall submit an annual report of its state-funded travel to the senate standing committee on ways and means and house standing committee on finance no later than thirty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2027 and 2028.  Each report submitted shall include:

     (1)  Identification of all travelers by position number;

     (2)  The number of trips approved for each position;

     (3)  The purpose and location of each trip;

     (4)  A brief explanation of how each trip advanced the priority of the state function;

     (5)  Certification that remote participation alternatives were evaluated and determined to be insufficient; and

     (6)  Total cost of each trip, including airfare, lodging, transportation, registration, per diem, and any other related travel expenses.

     (b)  As used in this Act, "state agency" means all executive departments, boards, commissions, bureaus, offices, agencies, and all independent commissions and other establishments of the state government, including the university of Hawaii, and all quasi-public institutions which are supported in whole or in part by, or which handle, state or public funds; provided that "state agency" does not include:

     (1)  The judiciary and its staff;

     (2)  The legislature, its committees, and its staff;

     (3)  The governor and the governor's staff; or

     (4)  The lieutenant governor and the lieutenant governor's staff.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2028.

 

 

Report Title:

DAGS; State Agencies; Travel Reports

 

Description:

Requires reports on travel taken by certain state agencies and for the reports to be submitted to the money committees of the Legislature.  Sunsets 6/30/2028.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.