STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3247

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1860

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1860, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

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

(2) Exempt state funds it receives from chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(3) 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; Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra; Servco Pacific, Inc.; Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony; ABC Stores; HULI PAC; and sixty‑nine individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra has served and continues to serve a public purpose through the promotion of the arts, cultural education and youth programs, and community enrichment. Therefore, the State bears a certain responsibility to the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra in return for its services. This measure will sustain and facilitate the growth of one of the State's primary arts institutions for the benefit of state artists and public audiences.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting section 3 of the measure, which would have appropriated funds out of the general revenues of the State for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the general operating costs of the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra;

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

(3) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1860, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1860, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair