CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 47

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1651

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1651, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC MEETINGS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require board packets to be posted at least two full business days before a public meeting; and

(2) Require boards to provide notice to persons who have requested notification of meetings at the time the board packet is made available for public inspection.

Your Committee on Conference finds that existing law requires board packets to be posted at least two business days before a public meeting to give the public ample time to review the contents. Your Committee on Conference finds, however, that some agencies are not adhering to the legislative intent of the required notice period for posting board packets before public meetings, by posting the board packets late in the evening, effectively reducing the time for public review. Therefore, this measure clarifies the deadline for posting board packets to ensure there is adequate time for the public to review the board packets before public meetings.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring board packets to be made available for public inspection no later than three full business days, rather than two full business days, before a public meeting;

(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(3) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1651, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1651, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JACKSON D. SAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY Chair
____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair