STAND. COM. REP. NO. 734

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 353

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 Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 353, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify state and county emergency management authority, ensure effective and adaptable emergency responses, and further the goals of transparency and democratic accountability within the State's constitutional system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Hawaii Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Public First Law Center, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Libertarian Party of Hawaii, and four individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that public records laws are a critical mechanism to ensure government transparency. Your Committee believes that the suspension of these laws during a state of emergency undermines public trust in the workings of government at a time when trust is needed most. This measure will seek to safeguard the promise of openness for the public during government-declared emergencies, when transparency is especially crucial.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 353, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 353, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair