STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3649

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2315

H.D. 1

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2315, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support affordable housing for state workers to help the State recruit and retain qualified employees.

More specifically, the measure establishes a pilot program to allow Department of Health employees to liquidate a portion of their earned and accrued vacation benefits and to apply the disbursement to the downpayment on a home.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, and United Public Workers.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the nation, due, in part, to the high cost of housing. Your Committee believes that this measure will help reduce barriers to homeownership for Department of Health employees and ultimately increase the State's retention of qualified workers.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2315, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair