STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 621-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2349
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 Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2349 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to require the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to:
(1) Make certain contact information for newly registered entities available online, as part of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Registration Division Database of Public Information; and
(2) Transmit this contact information to the Business Development and Support Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Your Committee finds that small businesses are the foundation of the State's economy and that connecting new businesses to available resources is essential to ensuring their success. Your Committee further finds that there is limited publicly accessible information regarding new business registrants, making it difficult for these new businesses to connect with local resources and grow their businesses. This measure assists in this endeavor and also requires certain information to be transmitted to the Business Development and Support Division, which will assist in the promotion and increased public awareness of services that the Division can offer Hawaii business, including technical assistance, finance opportunities, and training.
Your Committee notes that the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs requests to raise their ceiling if this measure is implemented.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requiring newly registered entities to opt-in in order for name and contact information and electronic mail addresses to be made available online;
(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 Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2349, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2349, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,
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____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair |
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