STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3118

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2273

H.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 Labor and Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2273, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Bargaining Unit (14) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Hawaii Government Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that collective bargaining cost items for the members of Bargaining Unit (14) and salary increases and other cost adjustments for their excluded counterparts were not included in the 2025–2027 biennium budget because collective bargaining negotiations were not concluded in time. This measure provides a legislative vehicle to appropriate and authorize the necessary funds for these costs if an agreement is reached or an arbitration award is issued before the end of the 2026 Regular Session.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2273, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor and Technology,

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BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair