STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1979-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2737

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2737, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BRIBERY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the offense of failure to report bribery by a state elected official as a misdemeanor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that bribery undermines public trust in government and that state elected officials play a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of public institutions. Your Committee further finds that requiring state elected officials to report known or witnessed instances of bribery will strengthen accountability and help deter corruption.

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2737, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2737, 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair