STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2592

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2932

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Government Operations and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2932 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE FACILITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require all state building construction begun on or after July 1, 2026, to provide at least one universal changing accommodation in each public restroom designated as a family or assisted-use restroom, where feasible.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Goodwill Hawaiʻi, and seven individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committees find that a fundamental goal of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in basic civic activities and everyday events. Your Committees recognize that people with disabilities who cannot use a standard toilet should have access to universal changing accommodations that provide a safe, sanitary, and private space to be changed and cleaned by a caregiver. This measure establishes an important baseline within state facilities and improves equitable access and civic participation in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring all state building construction begun on or after July 1, 2028, rather than July 1, 2026, to provide at least one universal changing accommodation;

(2) Clarifying that the requirement to provide at least one universal changing accommodation in any restroom for public use that is designated as a family or assisted-use restroom, does not apply when doing so is technically infeasible;

(3) Clarifying that the agency responsible for the management of the state building shall conspicuously post signage indicating the location of any universal changing accommodation;

(4) Inserting language defining the term "technically infeasible" to have the same meaning as the term is defined in the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design;

(5) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2525, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2932, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2932, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair