STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2754

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 2928

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2928, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROCUREMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to promote the growth and development of small businesses in the State.

 

     Specifically, this measure permanently establishes and appropriates moneys for the small business procurement program and the small business procurement coordinator position within the State Procurement Office.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; State Procurement Office; Kapolei Chamber of Commerce; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Native Hawaiian Community Development Corporation; Wahiawa Value Added Product Development Center; Pacific Resource Partnership; Legacy Visuals LLC; CivicNexus; Hello Momentum; and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that although small businesses are critical to the State's economic development, they have historically faced structural barriers to participating effectively in public procurement.  Your Committee further finds that the small business procurement program established by this measure will help to increase small business participation in state contracting, improve competition, strengthen local supply chains, and ensure that public procurement funds circulate within Hawaii's economy.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2928, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair