STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2150

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2809

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2809 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BUDGET-RELATED REPORTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Governor to ensure that the Governor's program memoranda and variance reports accurately reflect the current responsibilities of certain state programs, address the current and future needs of the State, and align with budget-related submittals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the Governor is required to submit to the Legislature program memoranda and variance reports regarding the budget and operations of each of the executive agencies. However, your Committee further finds that on multiple occasions the data submitted in these reports was inaccurate and that the Department of Budget and Finance also recognizes this issue. This measure will increase the transparency and accountability of the Executive Branch by requiring the Governor's program memoranda and variance reports to be relevant, updated, and accurate every year.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2809 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

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ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair