RELATING TO STATE-FUNDED TRAVEL.

SB3332

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3332

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to state-funded travel
.

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

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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that the State is
entering a period of fiscal uncertainty marked by slowing revenue growth,
reductions in federal support, rising costs of government operations, and
increasing demands on limited public resources.
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Given these circumstances, prudent stewardship of taxpayer funds
requires discipline, restraint, and careful prioritization of expenditures.

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The
legislature further finds that state-funded travel for conferences, forums, and
professional development, while often beneficial, must be closely scrutinized
to ensure that it is essential, cost-effective, and aligned with the State's
highest priorities.
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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to emphasize efficiency, accountability, and
resourcefulness in the use of public funds during austere fiscal times by
imposing a two‑year moratorium on discretionary state-funded travel, with
certain narrowly tailored exceptions.

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SECTION
2.
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State-funded travel moratorium
established.
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(a)
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Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no
state agency shall expend state funds for out‑of-state or inter-island
travel for conferences, conventions, forums, workshops, or similar
discretionary activities, except as provided in subsection (b).
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(b)
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The state-funded travel moratorium shall not
apply to:

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(1)
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Mandatory work-related travel,
including but not limited to travel for:

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(A)
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Court-ordered appearances;

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(B)
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Federal compliance, regulatory
requirements, or certification;

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(C)
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Collective bargaining obligations;

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(D)
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Emergency response, public safety, or
disaster‑related activities; and

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(E)
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Regularly scheduled administrative
meetings; or

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(2)
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Travel required for professional
development, training, conferences, forums, or employee recruitment; provided
that:

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(A)
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Not more than three trips pursuant to
this paragraph shall be approved per employee per fiscal year;

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(B)
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Not more than three employees shall
attend any trip approved pursuant to this paragraph;

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(C)
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Each trip approved pursuant to this
paragraph shall be directly related to a high-priority state function,
including but not limited to:

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(i)
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Public safety;

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(ii)
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Education and workforce development;

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(iii)
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Health care and medicaid
administration;

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(iv)
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Critical infrastructure; and

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(v)
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Fiscal management, auditing, or
compliance; and

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(D)
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The appropriate state agency
demonstrates that the training, conference, forum, or employee recruitment:

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(i)
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Cannot be effectively conducted
remotely; and

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(ii)
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Provides a clear and measurable benefit
to the State.

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(c)
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All travel permitted pursuant to this section
shall require written approval from the appropriate head of the state agency or
the head's designee and shall certify that:

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(1)
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The travel is essential to the state agency's
mission;

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(2)
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Costs have been minimized, including
through the purchase of economy airfare and reasonable lodging; and

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(3)
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Remote participation alternatives were
evaluated and found to be insufficient.

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(d)
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Each state agency shall maintain records of
all travel approved pursuant to this Act and make the records available upon
request to the legislature or auditor.

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(e)
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The department of accounting and
general services may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, or issue guidance to implement this Act, including rules establishing
standardized reporting formats and approval documentation.

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(f)
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Each state agency shall submit an annual
report of its state-funded travel to the senate standing committee on ways and
means and house standing committee on finance no later than thirty days prior
to the convening of the regular sessions of 2027 and 2028
.
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Each report submitted shall include:

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(1)
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The number of trips approved pursuant
to this Act;

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(2)
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The purpose and location of each trip;

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(3)
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The total cost of each trip, including
airfare, lodging, registration, and per diem;

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(4)
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Identification of whether the travel
was approved pursuant to section 2(b)(1) or (2) of this Act;

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(5)
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A brief explanation of how each trip
advanced a high‑priority state function;

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(6)
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Certification that remote participation
alternatives were evaluated and determined to be insufficient; and

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(7)
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Identified cost savings compared to the
previous two fiscal years.

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(g)
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The department of accounting and general
services shall compile and submit a summary report on the state-funded travel
moratorium to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening
of the regular session of
2028.
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The report shall:

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(1)
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Identify statewide travel expenditures
and trends during the state-funded travel moratorium period pursuant to this
Act; and

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(2)
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Include a recommendation as to whether
the state‑funded travel moratorium established pursuant to this Act
should be modified or made permanent in the interest of public accountability
of the use of public funds by state agencies.

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(h)
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As used in this
Act, "state agency" means
a
ll
executive
departments, boards, commissions, bureaus, offices, agencies, and all
independent commissions and other establishments of the state government
, including the
university of Hawaii,

and all quasi-public institutions which are supported in whole or in part by,
or which handle state or public funds
; provided that "state agency"
does not include:

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(1)
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The
judiciary and its staff;

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(2)
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The legislature, its committees, and its
staff;

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(3)
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The governor and the governor's staff; or

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(4)
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The lieutenant governor and the lieutenant
governor's staff.

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SECTION
3.
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This Act shall take effect upon its
approval and shall be repealed on June 30, 2028.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DAGS; State
Agencies; State-Funded Travel Moratorium; Rules; Reports

Description:

Establishes
a two-year state-funded travel moratorium for certain state agencies, with
certain exceptions.
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Permits the
Department of Accounting and General Services to adopt rules.
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Requires reports to the Legislature.
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Sunsets 6/30/2028.

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