STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1359-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2147

S.D. 1

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 Culture & Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 2147, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOVE MY LIBRARY DAY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to designate the first Friday in February of each year as "Love My Library Day" in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaiʻi State Public Library System; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that libraries serve as vital community institutions that promote lifelong learning, civic engagement, and equitable access to information and educational resources. Hawaii's statewide public library system, along with school and higher education libraries, provides critical services and community gathering spaces that benefit residents across the State. Fostering public awareness and appreciation of libraries, this measure designates the first Friday in February of each year as "Love My Library Day" to recognize the important role that libraries and library workers play in supporting education, access to knowledge, and community well-being throughout the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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 Culture & Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2147, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2147, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture & Arts,

____________________________

JEANNE KAPELA, Chair