STAND. COM. REP. NO. 841

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1578

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 S.B. No. 1578, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to engage state leaders with strong relationships abroad to support the Governor and Legislature in strengthening international partnerships.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Redesignates the Hawaii Sister-State Committee as the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission;

(2) Enables the East-West Center to better help maintain the State's international relationships, programs, and partnerships; and

(3) Enables the State to more easily generate revenue from international partnerships and investment.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that strong sister-state, sister-school, and similar relationships benefit the State's businesses and economy, improve access to flights and transportation, expand high school and college student educational exchanges, broaden access to Pacific culture and arts, preserve the State's relationships to the places of origin of its immigrant communities, and spur sub‑national government collaborations to address common priorities, including the eradication of invasive species, promotion of economic development, advancement of clean energy, and preservation of peace between nations. Your Committee further finds that it is critical for the State to adjust its engagement strategy to ensure the continuity of existing sister-state relationships, explore additional opportunities, and plan for the future. Accordingly, this measure provides a framework for the State to update its international engagement strategy and reaffirms the State's commitment to building and maintaining beneficial international partnerships.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adopting an amendment requested by the Attorney General to include certain standards that the East-West Center must meet in order to receive public funds for official designation purposes; and

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

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. 1578, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1578, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair