STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2986

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2397

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. 2397 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish that when a neighborhood board of the City and County of Honolulu has a vacancy, a majority of all seats that are filled shall constitute quorum to conduct business and a majority vote of the members present at the board's meeting shall validate an act of the board as part of its official business.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that vacancies and absences often prevent neighborhood boards in the City and County of Honolulu from conducting official business due to quorum requirements that call for a majority of all members to which a board is entitled. This obstructs neighborhood boards from effectively fulfilling their role as community forums that facilitate dialogue and address local issues. This measure improves the effectiveness of neighborhood boards while preserving the integrity of voting procedures.

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. 2397 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair