STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3025

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2849

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2849, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC MEETINGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require certain information to appear at the beginning of notices for public meetings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, Public First Law Center, Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, and four individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one member of the Maui County Council.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that clear and accessible meeting notices are critical to effective public participation. However, many boards provide lengthy "boilerplate" instructions and non-substantive meeting information at the beginning of a meeting notice. While this may frustrate the general population, your Committee notes that this proves particularly difficult for individuals relying on assistive "screen reading" technology. This measure will reduce barriers to access and ensure that all members of the public can quickly find the information they need.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that certain information is required to appear at the beginning of notices for public meetings only if applicable;

(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2849, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2849, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair