CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 93-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2852

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. 2852, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS,"

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) Require the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to adopt rules on digital accessibility for places of public accommodation that are consistent with certain federal regulations;

(2) Specify that a violation of the rules is an unlawful discriminatory practice; and

(3) Establish that it is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a place of public accommodation to deny a person with a disability full and equal enjoyment of their goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations, or information related thereto, by requiring the use of information and communication technology that is not accessible to the person.

Your Committee on Conference finds that as more services, transactions, and interactions move to digital platforms, access to information and communication technology has become essential to full participation in community life. Your Committee on Conference further finds that for many people with disabilities, inaccessible websites, applications, kiosks, and other digital systems can function as barriers to accessing goods and services that are otherwise available to other members of the public, undermining independence, dignity, and equal opportunity for these people. This measure helps ensure that people with disabilities are not excluded from full participation in public life simply because access to certain public accommodations has shifted to digital platforms.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Updating its legislative findings;

(2) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

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. 2852, 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. 2852, 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

____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ MAHINA POEPOE Co-Chair	____________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE Co-Chair
	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair
	____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY Co-Chair