STAND. COM. REP. NO. 725

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1651

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1651, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require board packets to be posted no later than 7:45 a.m. on the third business day before a public meeting; and

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Public First Law Center and two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services; Office of Information Practices; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Hawaiʻi State Commission on Fatherhood; Hawaiʻi State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission; and Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.

Your Committee finds that board meetings provide the public with an opportunity to engage in community matters, offer insight, and interact with government officials. While board meetings are open to the public, most board meeting packets are not publicly available until a short time before the board meeting begins, leaving community members with little time to understand the topics to be discussed, evaluate and examine documents, and formulate informed testimony. Therefore, this measure ensures greater participation by community members through the timely posting of board packets.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1651, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair