STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1285-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2969

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2969, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MAUI WILDFIRE EXPOSURE STUDY AND MAUI HEALTH REGISTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Maui Health Registry.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; two members of the Maui County Council; Hawaii Medical Association; Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi; American Lung Association Hawaiʻi; Roots Reborn; Hawaiʻi Community Health; Hawaiʻi Public Health Association; Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and the Maui Health Registry have been extremely successful in the wake of the disastrous Lahaina wildfires, providing services to more than two thousand residents, including medical and mental health screenings, biomonitoring, and referrals to care. Your Committee further finds that additional funding is needed to expand and sustain these services, with a focus on children and other high-risk populations, as well as to ensure long-term follow-up.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2969, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2969, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair