STAND. COM. REP. NO. 962-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2344

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2344, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a temporary, independent Public School Realignment and Closure Commission to develop and submit a report containing a single, comprehensive list of recommended school consolidations, realignments, and closures based on the federal Base Realignment and Closure model;

(2) Establish a process by which the Governor, then Legislature may approve or disapprove of the report in its entirety, without amendment; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the operational costs of the Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Education; and Board of Education.

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. 2344, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair