STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1811-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2607

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2607, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the qualifications for licensure as a landscape architect by aligning the existing requirements with the Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects; Legislative Advocacy Committee, American Institute of Architects, Hawaiʻi State Council; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that, in 2025, the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects, through its Landscape Architect Licensure Permitted Interaction Group, conducted a detailed comparison of the Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture with Hawaii's existing licensure requirements. The Permitted Interaction Group recommended the adoption of the Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture, while also maintaining requirements for Hawaii's state-specific examinations and work experience. This measure modernizes the licensure qualifications for landscape architects by aligning the qualifications with the nationally recognized education, experience, and examination framework adopted by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards.

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2607, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2607, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair