STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1464-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2268

S.D. 2

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 Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 2268, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EQUITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require new places of public accommodation and public entity construction establishments to provide at least one universal changing accommodation within a restroom for public use.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Hawaiʻi State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission; Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Disability and Communication Access Board; Hawaiʻi Self‑Advocacy Advisory Council; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Pride at Work – Hawaiʻi; HOKU PAC; Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers; Full Life Hawaii; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that individuals with disabilities and others who require assistance with personal care often face barriers to full participation in public life due to the lack of appropriate changing accommodations in places of public accommodation and public entity facilities. Your Committee further finds that universal changing accommodations promote equity, dignity, and accessibility for residents, workers, and visitors across the State. This measure addresses these concerns by requiring certain new establishments to provide universal changing accommodations, with limited exemptions to avoid undue burden.

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 Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2268, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2268, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair