STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2817

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2598

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. 2598 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow moneys in the Hawaii agricultural development revolving fund, Hawaii community development special fund, strategic development programs revolving fund, and school facilities special fund to be used for administrative and operating costs related to the uses of those respective funds.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Community Development Authority, Agribusiness Development Corporation, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that expanding the use of moneys in various funds to include funding for administrative and operating costs will help the State to address reduction in federal funding for these programs and to mitigate rapid fluctuation in federal policies.

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. 2598 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair