HB2235 • 2026

RELATING TO THE MILITARY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE.

Budget

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: BELATTI, AMATO, KONG, MARTEN, SHIMIZU, TAM
Last action: 2026-02-20
Official status: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how funds will be allocated or used beyond enhancing intergovernmental coordination and program administration responsibilities.

Funding for Military and Community Relations

This bill provides $1,300,000 in funding from general revenues to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the Military and Community Relations Office to enhance intergovernmental coordination related to military and defense activities.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates $1,300,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2026-2027.
Uses these funds to support the Military and Community Relations Office within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Enhances intergovernmental coordination related to military and defense activities.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism
State agencies involved with military affairs

Terms To Know

Intergovernmental Coordination: Working together between different levels of government to achieve common goals.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only provides funding for one fiscal year and does not specify long-term plans.
It is unclear how much of the $1,300,000 will be used for each purpose mentioned in the bill.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment appropriates funds to the Military and Community Relations Office within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to improve coordination with federal and military partners.

Appropriates money for fiscal year 2026-2027 to enhance intergovernmental coordination related to defense activities, workforce development, business readiness, and in-state manufacturing capacity.

The exact amount of the appropriation is not specified.
The amendment's effective date (July 1, 3000) seems incorrect or possibly a placeholder for an actual future date.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment appropriates funds to the Military and Community Relations Office within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to enhance coordination with federal and military partners.

Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2026-2027 to support intergovernmental coordination related to defense activities, workforce development, business readiness, and in-state manufacturing and sustainment capacity.

The exact amount of funding appropriated is not specified.
The amendment's effective date (July 1, 3000) seems incorrect or possibly a placeholder and needs clarification.

Bill History

2026-02-20 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 622-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-18 H
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hussey; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-12 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Wednesday, 02-18-26 9:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-11 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on ECD with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Holt excused (1).
2026-02-11 H
Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 196-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to ECD.
2026-02-06 H
The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Iwamoto; and Excused: none.
2026-02-03 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 02-06-26 8:30AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-30 H
Referred to PBS, ECD, FIN, referral sheet 5
2026-01-28 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-26 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE MILITARY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE.
DBEDT; Military and Community Relations Office; Intergovernmental Coordination; Defense-related Workforce Development; Advanced Manufacturing and Sustainment; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the Military and Community Relations Office to strengthen intergovernmental coordination for military and defense activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2235

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2235

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the military and community relations office
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.

�
The legislature finds that federal
defense-related contracting represents a significant share of Hawaii's economy
and provides substantial opportunities for local businesses and residents.
�
The legislature further finds that federal
investment in military and defense activities has increased substantially in
recent years, with congressional appropriations for defense growing by
approximately one billion dollars annually over the past few fiscal years.

����
Consistent
with the organization and purpose of the executive branch under chapter 26,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, effective coordination among state agencies and
between state, federal, and military partners is a core governmental function
necessary for the efficient administration of public programs and
services.
�
The military and community
relations office serves as the State's central point of coordination on
military and defense-related matters.
�
Strengthening the capacity and effectiveness
of this office improves intergovernmental coordination, enhances communication
and responsiveness, and supports the effective delivery of public services
related to defense activities, workforce development, infrastructure, and community
relations.

����
Additionally,
Hawaii's strategic location and military presence captures a meaningful portion
of federal defense investment, and that defense-related expenditures constitute
a significant share of the State's economy relative to other states.
�
Increasing Hawaii's ability to compete for
and perform federal work requires coordinated investments in:
�
(1) local business readiness and compliance
support; (2) workforce education-to-career pathways that lead to job placement;
and (3) in-state advanced manufacturing, repair, and sustainment capacity that
strengthens the State's industrial base and reduces long lead times for
critical parts and services.

����
The
legislature further finds that effective workforce and industry development
efforts would help align early career training with employer demand, connect
individuals to internships and job placements, and track measurable outcomes
through periodic reporting.
�
Strategic
coordination is necessary to integrate �12 exposure, early college
opportunities, internships, and direct-to-career pathways, and to align
workforce development with Hawaii's evolving industrial and defense-related
needs.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation for the military and community
relations office to enhance the State's capacity for intergovernmental
coordination and effective administration of defense-related programs, and to
strengthen Hawaii's defense-related workforce pathways, local business
readiness, and in-state manufacturing and sustainment capacity, thereby
improving public service delivery, economic resilience, and the State's ability
to capture and retain federal investment.

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,300,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the military and
community relations office to enhance the State's capacity for
intergovernmental coordination, communication, and program administration
responsibilities related to military and defense activities, workforce
development, business readiness, and in-state manufacturing and sustainment
capacity.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic
development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DBEDT;
Military Affairs and Community Relations Office; Intergovernmental
Coordination; Defense-Related Workforce Development; Advanced Manufacturing and
Sustainment; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the
Military Affairs Community Relations Office to strengthen intergovernmental
coordination for military and defense activities.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.