STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2786

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2543

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 S.B. No. 2543, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve consistency and accountability in state construction projects.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes within the Office of the Comptroller a five‑year Office of the State Construction Manager Pilot Program, to be headed by a full-time state construction manager, to provide guidance and recommendations on the design review of state construction projects administered by the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Education;

(2) Establishes the design review special fund; and

(3) Appropriates moneys to implement the pilot program and establish positions.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 3, Hawaii Iron Workers Stabilization Fund, and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committee finds that creating the Office of the State Construction Manager Pilot Program to oversee state construction projects will establish a centralized point of management and accountability over scheduling, sequencing, constructability, and coordination among agencies, designers, and contractors. This centralized management can reduce waste by minimizing change orders, work stoppages, and rework caused by miscommunication or poor sequencing, thereby ensuring that public funds are used efficiently.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Office of the State Construction Manager to ensure that final plans, drawings, specifications, and any other documents are submitted to the Disability and Communication Access Board for review to ensure compliance with applicable accessibility laws, and requiring resubmission of final plans, drawings, specifications, or other documents to the Disability and Communication Access Board for review if those documents are changed; and

(2) Making a technical nonsubstantive change for the purpose of clarity and consistency.

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 S.B. No. 2543, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2543, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair