STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3252

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2117

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. 2117, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ARTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Mapping of Arts Data for Education Task Force to conduct a study and develop a comprehensive, publicly available statewide database and geographic information systems map of arts entities and programs engaged in arts and arts education; and

(2) Require interim and final reports to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Education; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Hawaiʻi Arts Alliance; Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra; Hawaiʻi Data Collaborative; Hawaiʻi Community Foundation; ʻOhina Labs; Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony; Ballet Hawaii; HULI PAC; and nineteen individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that advances in geographic information systems and open data platforms offer the opportunity to collect, organize, and present arts data in a manner that is transparent, accessible, and useful to communities statewide. Currently, the State lacks a centralized, comprehensive, and publicly accessible statewide database that identifies the availability, geographic distribution, and scope of arts programs and services. This measure will fill gaps in access, help coordinate services, and support informed decision-making for the development of arts programs and arts education across the State.

Your Committee acknowledges the concern raised in testimony by the Department of the Attorney General that the Mapping of Arts Data for Education Task Force would not be established within a principal department and also notes the recommendation by the Department to expressly clarify the temporary nature of the Task Force to align it with article V, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution, which provides that "[t]emporary commissions or agencies for special purposes may be established by law and need not be allocated within a principal department". An amendment to this measure is therefore necessary to address this concern.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language clarifying that, after the Mapping of Arts Data for Education Task Force submits a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, on the arts in general and arts education programming to the Legislature, the Task Force shall be dissolved; and

(2) 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. 2117, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2117, 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