STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2026

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1651

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1651, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require:

(1) Board packets to be posted two full business days before a public meeting; and

(2) Boards to provide notice to persons who have requested notification of meetings when the board packets are made available for public inspection.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission; Disability and Communication Access Board; Public First Law Center; Society of Professional Journalists, Hawaii Chapter; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that in 2024, state law was amended to require board packets to be posted no later than two business days before a public meeting to give the public ample time to review the materials. However, some agencies have interpreted this amendment to mean that a board packet can be posted at any time during the second business day before the public meeting. This measure aims to clarify the deadline for posting board packets, ensuring adequate time for boards to prepare their materials and for the public to review them before the meeting.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that board packets must be posted no later than two full business days before the meeting; and

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

Your Committee notes that the intent of this measure is for board packets to be posted no later than six hours before the close of business on the second business day before the meeting.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1651, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1651, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair