HB 2369: Judiciary; Community-Based Organizations; Contract for Services; Access to Justice; Appropriation
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2026-02-11
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-02-12: 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).)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
What does this bill do?
The bill requires the Judiciary’s multi-year service contracts with community-based organizations that help people connected to the courts to include annual price increases tied to the Consumer Price Index (a federal measure of inflation). It also provides state funds to raise the contract rates on existing Judiciary service contracts with those organizations.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
Beginning 1/1/2027, requires contracts for services awarded to community-based organizations by the Judiciary in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State to include certain protections against inflation. Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Beginning 1/1/2027, requires contracts for services awarded to community-based organizations by the Judiciary in support of fulfilling its statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State to include certain protections against inflation. Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for certain services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling its statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2369 |
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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 PURCHASE OF SERVICE CONTRACTS BY THE JUDICIARY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature further finds that the costs incurred by community-based organizations to provide these services, including wages, utilities, and administrative expenses, have increased significantly during the past decade, while government contract rates have remained stagnant. As a result, many organizations providing judiciary-related services are unable to cover their full cost of operations, threatening the continuity and effectiveness of critical services statewide.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to ensure the continued delivery of essential services supporting the judiciary's statutory mandate by:
(1) Requiring contracts for services awarded by the judiciary to community-based organizations to include protections against inflation; and
(2) Appropriating funds to the judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling the judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State.
SECTION 2. Beginning January 1, 2027, contracts awarded to community-based organizations by the judiciary for services in support of fulfilling the judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State, including supporting access to justice, shall:
(1) Be for a term of multiple years; and
(2) Include a provision that requires the contract price to be adjusted on an annual basis based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, or a successor index, as reported by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
SECTION 3. 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 increase the contract price under existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling the judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the judiciary for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Judiciary; Community-Based Organizations; Contract for Services; Access to Justice; Appropriation
Description:
Beginning 1/1/2027, requires contracts for services awarded to community-based organizations by the Judiciary in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State to include certain protections against inflation. Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State. 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. |
2369 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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|
|
|
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|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to PURCHASE OF SERVICE CONTRACTS BY THE JUDICIARY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature further finds that the costs incurred by community-based organizations to provide these services, including wages, utilities, and administrative expenses, have increased significantly during the past decade, while government contract rates have remained stagnant. As a result, many organizations providing judiciary-related services are unable to cover their full cost of operations, threatening the continuity and effectiveness of critical services statewide.
Accordingly, the purpose of this bill is to ensure the continued delivery of essential services supporting the judiciary's statutory mandate by:
(1) Requiring contracts for services awarded by the judiciary to community-based organizations to include protections against inflation; and
(2) Appropriating funds to the judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling its statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State.
SECTION 2. Beginning January 1, 2027, contracts awarded to community-based organizations by the judiciary for services in support of fulfilling its statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State, including supporting access to justice, shall:
(1) Be for a term of multiple years; and
(2) Include a provision that requires the contract price to be adjusted on an annual basis based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, or a successor index, as reported by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to increase the contract price under existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling the judiciary's statutory mandate toward individuals, families, and communities.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the judiciary for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
Judiciary; Community-Based Organizations; Contract for Services; Access to Justice; Appropriation
Description:
Beginning 1/1/2027, requires contracts for services awarded to community-based organizations by the Judiciary in support of fulfilling its statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State to include certain protections against inflation. Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for certain services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling its statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State.
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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| Feb 12, 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 12, 2026 | Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 233-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. |
| Feb 4, 2026 | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-04-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 6 |
| Jan 28, 2026 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 27, 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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| Feb 4, 2026 | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs |
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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| Aloha United Way | ** Support | |
| Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi | ** Support | |
| Child and Family Service | ** Support | |
| Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii | ** Support | |
| Hale Kipa | ** Support | |
| Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition | ** Support | |
| Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations | ** Support | |
| Hina Mauka | ** Support | |
| Kuʻikahi Mediation Center | ** Support | |
| Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center | *** Support | Feb 4, 2026 |
| Office of the Public Defender | ** Support | |
| Parents And Children Together | ** Support | |
| Partners in Development Foundation | ** Support | |
| The Hawaiʻi True Cost Coalition | ** Support | |
| True Cost Coalition | *** Support | Feb 4, 2026 |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 233-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2369
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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2369 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PURCHASE OF SERVICE CONTRACTS BY THE JUDICIARY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
(1) Beginning January 1, 2027, requiring contracts for services awarded by the Judiciary to community-based organizations to include protections against inflation; and
(2) Appropriating funds to the Judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender; Kuʻikahi Mediation Center; Hale Kipa; The Hawaiʻi True Cost Coalition; Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations; Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Parents and Children Together; Hina Mauka; Partners in Development Foundation; Child and Family Service; Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii; Aloha United Way; and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.
Your Committee finds that the Judiciary relies on community-based organizations to provide essential services that support access to justice and assist individuals and families involved in the court system. Your Committee further finds that rising operational costs and stagnant contract rates have placed significant strain on these organizations, threatening the continuity and effectiveness of critical services statewide. Requiring inflationary adjustments in future contracts and appropriating funds to increase rates under existing contracts will help ensure the sustainability of these services and support the Judiciary's ability to fulfill its statutory mandate.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to determine the means of implementing this measure and to work with the Judiciary to determine the amount for the appropriation in its deliberations.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2369, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2369, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Feb 4, 2026 | HB2369_TESTIMONY_JHA_02-04-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
18MIN
House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
2MIN
House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Bill Author
