STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1852

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.R. No. 147

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.R. No. 147 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A LEGISLATIVE WORKING GROUP FOR THE CONTINUED OVERSIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS' EXECUTION OF FUNDS APPROPRIATED BY ACT 279, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2022,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is that a legislative working group consisting of 7 House Representatives be established for the continued oversight over the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ execution of Act 279 funds. The Speaker of the House of

Representatives may amend the membership of the working group as

deemed necessary. The working group is requested to submit a progress report of its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives no later than twenty days prior to the commencement of the Regular Session of 2026, and a final report of its findings and any recommendations no later than twenty days before the commencement of the Regular Session of 2027 and cease to exist on January 1, 2027.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Health Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i and from one individual.

Your Committee finds that continued legislative oversight is essential to ensure the effective and transparent execution of Act 279 funds by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Establishing a working group of House Representatives will provide accountability, monitor progress, and assess challenges. Requiring progress and final reports will help guide future legislative actions to support the department’s mission and the needs of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing Representative Gene Ward and replacing with

Representative Diamond Garcia; and

(2) Striking out the Eighteenth District and adding in the Forty-Second district.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 147, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 147, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair