STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2300

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2564

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2564 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADOPTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to add the requirement that a written consent to adoption be notarized.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary and Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that there is currently no notary requirement for written consents in adoption cases under section 578-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Your Committee further finds that adding the requirement that written consents to adoption be notarized will help to prevent the possibility of fraudulent consents. This measure reduces the risk of disputes regarding consent in adoption cases and legal challenges that could otherwise disrupt permanency for children.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2564 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair