SB 3332: DAGS; State Agencies; Travel Reports

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO STATE-FUNDED TRAVEL.

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

     SECTION 1.  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.  Given these circumstances, prudent stewardship of taxpayer funds requires discipline, restraint, and careful prioritization of expenditures.

     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.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to emphasize efficiency, accountability, and resourcefulness in the use of public funds during austere fiscal times by temporarily requiring each state agency to submit annual reports of its state-funded travel to certain committees of the legislature.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  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.  Each report submitted shall include:

     (1)  Identification of all travelers by position number;

     (2)  The number of trips approved for each position;

     (3)  The purpose and location of each trip;

     (4)  A brief explanation of how each trip advanced the priority of the state function;

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

     (6)  Total cost of each trip, including airfare, lodging, transportation, registration, per diem, and any other related travel expenses.

     (b)  As used in this Act, "state agency" means all 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:

     (1)  The judiciary and its staff;

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

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

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

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2028.

Report Title:

DAGS; State Agencies; Travel Reports

Description:

Requires reports on travel taken by certain state agencies and for the reports to be submitted to the money committees of the Legislature.  Sunsets 6/30/2028.  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.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO STATE-FUNDED TRAVEL.

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

     SECTION 1.  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.  Given these circumstances, prudent stewardship of taxpayer funds requires discipline, restraint, and careful prioritization of expenditures.

     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.

     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.

     SECTION 2.  State-funded travel moratorium established.  (a)  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).

     (b)  The state-funded travel moratorium shall not apply to:

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

          (A)  Court-ordered appearances;

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

          (C)  Collective bargaining obligations;

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

          (E)  Regularly scheduled administrative meetings; or

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

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

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

               (i)  Public safety;

              (ii)  Education and workforce development;

             (iii)  Health care and medicaid administration;

              (iv)  Critical infrastructure; and

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

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

               (i)  Cannot be effectively conducted remotely; and

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

     (c)  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:

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

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

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

     (d)  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.

     (e)  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.

     (f)  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.  Each report submitted shall include:

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

     (2)  The purpose and location of each trip;

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

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

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

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

     (7)  Identification of all travelers by position number.

     (g)  As used in this Act, "state agency" means all 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:

     (1)  The judiciary and its staff;

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

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

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

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2525, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2028.

Report Title:

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

Description:

Establishes a two-year state-funded travel moratorium for certain state agencies, with certain exceptions.  Permits the Department of Accounting and General Services to adopt rules.  Requires reports to the Legislature.  Effective 1/1/2525.  Sunsets 6/30/2028.  (SD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to state-funded travel.

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

     SECTION 1.  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.  Given these circumstances, prudent stewardship of taxpayer funds requires discipline, restraint, and careful prioritization of expenditures.

     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. 

     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.

     SECTION 2.  State-funded travel moratorium established.  (a)  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). 

     (b)  The state-funded travel moratorium shall not apply to:

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

          (A)  Court-ordered appearances;

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

          (C)  Collective bargaining obligations;

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

          (E)  Regularly scheduled administrative meetings; or

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

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

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

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

               (i)  Public safety;

              (ii)  Education and workforce development;

             (iii)  Health care and medicaid administration;

              (iv)  Critical infrastructure; and

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

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

               (i)  Cannot be effectively conducted remotely; and

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

     (c)  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:

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

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

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

     (d)  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.

     (e)  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.

     (f)  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.  Each report submitted shall include:

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

     (2)  The purpose and location of each trip;

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

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

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

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

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

     (g)  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.  The report shall:

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

     (2)  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.

     (h)  As used in this Act, "state agency" means all 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:

     (1)  The judiciary and its staff;

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

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

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

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

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.  Permits the Department of Accounting and General Services to adopt rules.  Requires reports to the Legislature.  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.

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2872

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:     S.B. No. 3332

        S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3332, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE-FUNDED TRAVEL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to promote efficiency, accountability, and resourcefulness in the use of public funds.

     More specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Establishes a two-year moratorium on state-funded travel for certain state agencies, with certain exceptions;

     (2)  Permits the Department of Accounting and General Services to adopt rules to implement the measure's provisions; and

     (3)  Requires reports to the Legislature.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services and one individual.

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and two individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Education, State Procurement Office, and Hawaii State Public Library System.

     Your Committee 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.  Your Committee also 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.

     Should a Committee in the House of Representatives hear this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider the written comments offered by the State Procurement Office.  In its written comments, the State Procurement Office argues that the Department of Accounting and General Services already enforces detailed administrative rules governing travel for all executive branch agencies, which set clear standards for approvals, cost control, and accountability to ensure that state-funded travel is managed responsibly and efficiently.  The State Procurement Office also argues that existing administrative rules allow agencies to evaluate travel requests individually to ensure that critical activities, such as professional development, training, and collaboration, are not disrupted, and that imposing a blanket moratorium, even with exceptions, risks limiting the State's ability to respond quickly to emerging needs and beneficial opportunities.  Your Committee also notes that the State Procurement Office has proposed amendments to the measure that would replace the travel moratorium with enhanced reporting requirements to ensure that state-funded travel aligns with the State's priorities.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3332, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2415

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:     S.B. No. 3332

        S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 3332 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE-FUNDED TRAVEL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Impose a two-year moratorium on discretionary state-funded travel, with certain narrowly tailored exceptions;

     (2)  Permit the Department of Accounting and General Services to adopt rules or issue guidance to implement this measure;

     (3)  Require state agencies to submit annual reports to the Legislature regarding their compliance with the moratorium; and

     (4)  Require the Department of Accounting and General Services to submit a summary report to the Legislature on the moratorium.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the University of Hawaii Public Assembly.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Education, and State Procurement Office.

     Your Committee finds that, with the uncertain economic environment that the State has entered, it is paramount that the State practice prudent stewardship of limited public resources.  State-funded travel is often beneficial for collaboration and professional development held in conferences and forums, but your Committee believes that the travel must be closely scrutinized to ensure that it is essential, cost-effective, and aligned with the State's highest priorities.  This measure will increase government accountability and fiscal responsibility and limit unnecessary spending at a time when the State's financial health is especially precarious.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting language that would have limited travel for professional development, training, conferences, forums, or employee recruitment to not more than three employees;

     (2)  Deleting language that would have required state agencies to include identified cost savings compared to the previous two fiscal years in their annual reports;

     (3)  Inserting language to require state agencies to include in their annual reports an identification of travelers by position number to protect the confidentiality of each traveler;

     (4)  Deleting language that would have required the Department of Accounting and General Services to 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;

     (5)  Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2525, to encourage further discussion; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3332, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3332, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,