STAND. COM. REP. NO. 481-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2335

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2335 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish that certain participants in state-funded internship and workforce development programs are eligible for internal recruitment.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Education; and Department of Human Resources Development.

Your Committee finds that many interns who participate in state-funded workforce development programs gain valuable skills and hands‑on experience but often face barriers to transitioning into permanent state employment due to internal recruitment restrictions. Your Committee further finds that these limitations can discourage workforce participation and reduce the State's ability to retain trained talent, especially in high‑need departments. Your Committee believes that allowing qualifying interns to be eligible for internal recruitment will strengthen the State's workforce pipeline and support long‑term talent development across departments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing its severability clause;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2335, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2335, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair