HCR 140 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO EVALUATE AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INITIATION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN HAWAII AND NEW ZEALAND TO FOSTER STRONGER TIES IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ARTS AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE, EDUCATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

HCR 140 is a resolution urging Hawaii's Sister-State Committee to evaluate establishing a formal sister-state relationship with New Zealand. It focuses on strengthening ties in economic development, arts/cultural exchange, education, and environmental sustainability, highlighting shared Polynesian heritage and regional cooperation goals. The resolution does not create new law but recommends the committee develop steps for potential collaboration. It emphasizes mutual interests in areas like renewable energy, marine conservation, and cultural programs between the two regions.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics: Conservation

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action Mar 27, 2025

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What changed between versions

HCR140 → HCR140_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to change the target agency from the Hawaii Sister-State Committee to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and to replace the goal of establishing a sister-state relationship with initiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) instead. This shift moves the focus from a formal diplomatic sister-state designation to a more flexible, executive-level agreement that can be more easily implemented by state agencies.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from seeking a formal sister-state relationship (typically a legislative or diplomatic designation) to pursuing a Memorandum of Understanding, which is a less formal, administrative agreement between agencies.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the target agency from the Hawaii Sister-State Committee to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Replaced the goal of establishing a sister-state relationship with the initiation of a Memorandum of Understanding between Hawaii and New Zealand.

Updated the list of recipients for certified copies of the resolution to include the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism instead of the Chair of the Hawaii Sister-State Committee.

TECHNICAL

Added metadata fields and template information from the legislative document system.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Hashem, Hussey, Templo, Ward excused (4).

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Reported from ECD/CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1616) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kong, Lee, M., Sayama, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kapela, Garrett.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Templo, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Holt, Tam, Todd.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to ECD/CAA, FIN, referral sheet 22

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Offered

lower

13 primary · 0 co-sponsors