STAND. COM. REP. NO. 810-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2005

H.D. 2

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. 2005, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a statewide language access education and workforce development program at the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; University of Hawaiʻi System; State Health Planning and Development Agency; Office of Language Access; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; The Legal Clinic; Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights; AlohaCare; Na Kama Kai; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Faith Action for Community Equity; Roots Reborn; Waipahu Safe Haven Immigrant/Migrant Resource Center; Pride at Work - Hawaiʻi; NAKEM Conferences; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

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. 2005, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair