STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1762

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 399

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 399, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish one additional District Court judge position in the First Circuit.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Hawaii Financial Services Association, Hawaii State Bar Association, and Collection Law Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association.

Your Committee finds that the additional judge position established by this measure will help the First Circuit better manage court dockets, be more responsive to the needs of the community, increase capacity in rural courts, and develop and expand specialized court calendars.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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 H.B. No. 399, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 399, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair