STAND. COM. REP. NO. 404-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1967

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 Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1967, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PERMITTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to:

(1) Develop a permitting workforce pipeline in partnership with the University of Hawaii and community colleges; and

(2) Coordinate with state and county permitting agencies on certain tasks related to the classification levels, salary and benefits, hiring, and responsibilities of employees.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning & Sustainable Development; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Housing Hawaiʻi's Future; Hawaiʻi Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that the Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) Task Force established pursuant to Act 133, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, has identified issues related to understaffing and recruitment of permitting agency employees as a common impediment to the permitting process. Your Committee further finds that this measure leverages existing local educational infrastructure to bridge technical gaps in the State's permitting agencies.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1967, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair