CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 35-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2835

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2835, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIQUOR,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify that class 10 special licenses may be granted for a period not to exceed three days per application;

(2) In counties with fewer than two hundred thousand residents but more than one hundred thousand residents, amend application requirements for class 10 special licenses, including requirements related to electronic submission, naming, and single applications for certain adjacent parcels of land, and prohibit the conditional acceptance of applications based on certain factors; and

(3) Increase the maximum percentage of fines assessed by county liquor commissions that may be used to fund public liquor-related educational or enforcement programs.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the application process for class 10 special licenses, which authorize nonprofit organizations to serve or sell liquor at fundraising events, lacks uniformity across every county in the State. Streamlining this process by allowing electronic submissions and reducing duplicative clearance requirements will make it easier for local groups to focus on serving the community rather than navigating unnecessary administrative barriers. This measure will create equitable compliance expectations, stabilize application requirements, and address certain overly restrictive systems for temporary liquor licenses.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2835, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2835, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN Co-Chair	____________________________ GLENN WAKAI Chair
____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair