STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2777

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2603

S.D. 1

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. 2603, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support performing arts and performing arts education.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Designates the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra;

(2) Exempts appropriations of state funds to the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra from the requirements of Chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(3) Authorizes the Comptroller and Auditor to examine the use of any funds provided to the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra;

(4) Requires annual reports to the Legislature; and

(5) Appropriates moneys for the general operating costs of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Servco Pacific Inc., ABC Stores, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, Hawaii Youth Symphony, and more than forty individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra serves a public purpose by regularly providing free performances at parks and outdoor community centers, providing free admission to public school employees and students to performances through Department of Education programming, and showcasing young musicians and performing side-by-side with the Hawaii Youth Symphony. Your Committee further finds that, given those benefits, exempting appropriations of state moneys to the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra from the requirements of Chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, complies with the public purpose requirements of Article VII, section 4, of the Hawaii State Constitution.

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. 2603, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair