STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2809

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2246

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2246 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the scope of persons who are subject to public financial disclosure requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Green Party of Hawaiʻi, and nine individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public First Law Center.

Your Committee finds that public financial disclosure is a cornerstone of transparent and accountable government. This measure will expand public financial disclosure requirements to include certain members of boards and commissions and certain executive directors and officers who exercise substantial financial authority or fill senior executive roles which will promote uniform ethical standards and strengthen public trust in the government.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2246, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2246, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair