STAND. COM. REP. NO. 244-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1860

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 Culture & Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1860 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the "State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra"; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the general operating costs of the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; ABC Stores; Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra; Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony; Masaki School of Music; Avalon Group; Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi; Servco Pacific, Inc.; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra has long served as a cornerstone of the State's cultural and artistic life, providing performances that enrich community education, showcase local talent, and connect Hawaii to international artistic traditions. Designating the organization as the "State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra" acknowledges its public value and formalizes the State's role in supporting its mission. This measure facilitates that designation and appropriates funds for general operations, including free services to public agencies and educational access for students and teachers, ensuring the orchestra can continue delivering statewide benefits without compromising its artistic independence.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting legislative findings in the preamble about the historic and public impact the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra has had in the State;

(2) Inserting legislative findings in the preamble that the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra serves a public purpose and that granting authorization to the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra to receive appropriations of state funds, exempt from the requirements of chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, complies with the public purpose requirement of Article VII, section 4, of the Hawaii State Constitution;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture & Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1860, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1860, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture & Arts,

____________________________

JEANNE KAPELA, Chair