STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1356-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2603

S.D. 1

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 Culture & Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 2603, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the "State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra";

(2) Exempt state funds it receives from chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the general operating costs of the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra; Servco Pacific, Inc.; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; ABC Stores; Kauai Concert Association; Hawaiʻi Arts Alliance; Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra has long served an important public purpose by providing free community performances and supporting the development of young musicians throughout the State. The State has historically recognized the public value of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra through the establishment and continuation of the State of Hawaii Endowment Fund for the production of music. This measure builds on that long-standing relationship by designating the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and enabling the orchestra to receive state support for its general operations and public services while preserving its autonomy.

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 Culture & Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2603, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2603, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture & Arts,

____________________________

JEANNE KAPELA, Chair