HB 1863: DBEDT; Honorary Ambassador to Canada; Appropriation
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2026-03-27
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-03-30: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Establishes an Honorary Ambassador to Canada position within the Business Development and Support Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)
Establishes an honorary ambassador to Canada position within the Business Development and Support Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Establishes an honorary ambassador to Canada position within the Business Development and Support Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1863 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO AN HONORARY AMBASSADOR TO CANADA.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§201- Honorary ambassador to Canada; appointment; term. (a) There is established within the business development and support division of the department of business, economic development, and tourism, a position of honorary ambassador to Canada. The honorary ambassador to Canada shall promote economic, cultural, and business relations between the State and Canada.
(b) The term of the honorary ambassador to Canada shall be four years.
(c) The honorary ambassador to Canada shall be appointed by the governor without regard to chapter 76. Notwithstanding section 76-16(b)(17), this exemption from chapter 76 shall not expire."
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) honorary ambassador to Canada position within the business development and support division of the department of business, economic development, and tourism.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3050.
Report Title:
DBEDT; Honorary Ambassador to Canada; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes an Honorary Ambassador to Canada position within the Business Development and Support Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1863 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO AN HONORARY AMBASSADOR TO CANADA.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§201- Honorary ambassador to Canada; appointment; term. (a) There is established within the business development and support division of the department a position of honorary ambassador to Canada. The honorary ambassador to Canada shall promote economic, cultural, and business relations between the State and Canada.
(b) The term of the honorary ambassador to Canada shall be four years.
(c) The honorary ambassador to Canada shall be appointed by the governor without regard to chapter 76."
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) honorary ambassador to Canada position within the business development and support division of the department of business, economic development, and tourism.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Honorary Ambassador to Canada; DBEDT; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes an honorary ambassador to Canada position within the Business Development and Support Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1863 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to an honorary ambassador to canada.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§201- Honorary ambassador to Canada; appointment; term. (a) There is established within the business development and support division of the department a position of honorary ambassador to Canada. The honorary ambassador to Canada shall promote economic, cultural, and business relations between the State and Canada.
(b) The term of the honorary ambassador to Canada shall be four years.
(c) The honorary ambassador to Canada shall be appointed by the governor without regard to chapter 76."
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) honorary ambassador to Canada position within the business development and support division of the department of business, economic development, and tourism.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
Honorary Ambassador to Canada; DBEDT; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes an honorary ambassador to Canada position within the Business Development and Support Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Mar 30, 2026 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Reported from EDT/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3310) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. |
| Mar 23, 2026 | The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao, DeCorte. |
| Mar 23, 2026 | The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Fukunaga; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kim, Fevella. |
| Mar 20, 2026 | The committee(s) on EDT/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 1:15PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Referred to EDT/WLA, WAM. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Passed First Reading. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 58). |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Iwamoto, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 775-26), recommending passage on Third Reading. |
| Mar 2, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Feb 27, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 18, 2026 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). |
| Feb 18, 2026 | Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 413-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. |
| Feb 13, 2026 | The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Feb 10, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Friday, 02-13-26 8:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 2 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Pending introduction. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Mar 23, 2026 | The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts |
Passed |
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| Mar 23, 2026 | The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism |
Passed |
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| Mar 5, 2026 | Third Reading | House Floor |
Passed |
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| Mar 2, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Finance |
Passed |
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| Feb 13, 2026 | The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Technology |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| Business Development and Support Division | *** Support | Mar 23, 2026 |
| Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism | *** Support | Mar 23, 2026 |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 775-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 1863
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1863, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN HONORARY AMBASSADOR TO CANADA,"
begs leave to report as follows:
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1863, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,
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____________________________ CHRIS TODD, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 413-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 1863
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1863 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN HONORARY AMBASSADOR TO CANADA,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.
Your Committee finds that Canada is one of Hawaii's most important international partners as it is a top visitor market, a key source of investment, and a collaborator in areas like renewable energy, ocean science, and indigenous cultural exchanges. This measure seeks to formalize and expand these connections through the establishment of an Honorary Ambassador to Canada.
Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1863, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1863, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,
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____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Mar 23, 2026 | HB1863_HD1_TESTIMONY_EDT-WLA_03-23-26_.PDF |
| Mar 3, 2026 | HB1863_HD1_TESTIMONY_FIN_03-02-26_.PDF |
| Feb 13, 2026 | HB1863_TESTIMONY_ECD_02-13-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
1MIN
Conference Committee
31SEC
Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
31SEC
Senate Standing Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts
46SEC
Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
46SEC
Senate Standing Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts
30SEC
House Standing Committee on Finance
25SEC
House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Technology
34SEC
House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Technology
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):
