STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1114-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2140

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. 2140, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ESSENTIAL PERMITTING POSITIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a four-year pilot program to improve the speed, accountability, and quality of permit processing through targeted staffing, performance incentives, and interdepartmental competition within participating counties.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Housing Hawaiʻi's Future; BOMA Hawaii; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu and Department of Budget and Fiscal Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

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. 2140, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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CHRIS TODD, Chair