STAND. COM. REP. NO. 996-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1655

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1655, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow public employers and the exclusive representatives of bargaining units to negotiate certain retirement benefits.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; and United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Office of Collective Bargaining; and Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1655, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair