STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3681

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2474

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

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. 2474, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the State's ability to enter into international partnerships and agreements.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Expands the sister-state and province relationships chapter of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to more broadly encompass international relations, province partnerships, and international cooperative agreements;

(2) Establishes a procedure for the State to enter into nonbinding international cooperative agreements and establishes limitations for those agreements; and

(3) Authorizes, rather than requires, the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission to evaluate and develop recommendations for the initiation of international partnerships or agreements.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that solving the State's challenges involving economic development, trade, education, agriculture, and biosecurity requires coordinated action across borders and sectors. Your Committee believes that providing the State with greater flexibility to engage in international agreements and partnerships will help to strengthen Hawaii in multiple sectors.

Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that if the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission evaluates and develops recommendations for the initiation of a sister-state or province partnership or international cooperative agreement, the evaluation must consider how the partnership or agreement will enhance key state initiatives, including how it will support economic development, trade, education, agriculture, and biosecurity.

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. 2474, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2474, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair