STAND. COM. REP. NO. 737-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2002

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2002 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Neighborhood Security Watch Grant Program to help fund certain activities and rental payments of established neighborhood security watch groups and neighborhood citizen patrol groups that rent government-owned facilities for a fee to carry out their duties.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Waikiki Neighborhood Board and one individual.

Your Committee finds that neighborhood security watch and neighborhood citizen patrol groups provide valuable community‑based support for public safety but often lack affordable access to meeting and training space. Your Committee further finds that offering short‑term financial assistance for rental costs of government‑owned facilities will strengthen these groups’ ability to organize, coordinate volunteers, and promote safer neighborhoods. This measure will help enhance community engagement and improve neighborhood safety by supporting these essential grassroots efforts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $75,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2002, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2002, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair