SB 1578 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

Summary

Establishes the official designation of the East-West Center as the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West, Inc., and exempts state fund appropriations to the East-West Center from chapter 42F, HRS. Renames the Hawaii Sister-State Committee to the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission and amends its functions and membership. Requires the Office of International Affairs to provide support to the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission. Expands the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's authority to establish out-of-state offices to include out-of-state facilities to support sister-state or province partnerships and other partnerships that promote and enrich the people, cultures, environments, and economies of the State and its international partners, generate revenue for the State, and buy property. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Signed Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1578_SD1 → SB1578_SD2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's international engagement strategy to modernize its approach to sister-state partnerships and revenue generation. It redesigns the Hawaii sister-state committee into a broader commission, expands the East-West Center's funding flexibility, and authorizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish offices abroad to generate revenue. The changes aim to ensure continuity of international partnerships as older leadership transitions and to position Hawaii as a Pacific hub for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope from a narrow sister-state committee to a broader commission with international partnerships focus, and adds authority for the state to operate offices and facilities in foreign nations for business and revenue purposes.

REQUIREMENT

Redesignated the Hawaii sister-state committee as the Hawaii sister-state and international partnerships commission, expanding its mandate to include broader international partnerships beyond sister-state relationships.

Added requirements for the East-West Center to submit annual reports to the legislature and maintain tax-exempt status with a governing board free of material conflicts of interest.

ELIGIBILITY

Exempted the East-West Center from certain state funding requirements under chapter 42F, provided that any contractors it engages must comply with those standards.

FISCAL

Authorized the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish offices in out-of-state and foreign locations to generate revenue for the State through business development, tourism promotion, and investment activities.

Appropriated unspecified funds for the Office of International Affairs to develop an updated international engagement strategy and analyze potential investment and revenue opportunities abroad.

Appropriated unspecified funds for the East-West Center to assist in developing and maintaining the State's international relationships, programs, and partnerships.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the Act to July 1, 2050, coinciding with the fiftieth anniversary of the East-West Center's establishment.

SB1578_HD1 → SB1578_SD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill fundamentally restructures Hawaii's international engagement strategy by renaming the Hawaii sister-state committee to the Hawaii sister-state and international partnerships commission, expanding its membership to include East-West Center and Office of Hawaiian Affairs representatives, and authorizing the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish out-of-state offices for revenue generation and sister-state partnerships. The legislation also modifies East-West Center funding exemptions and updates the Office of International Affairs' mandate to include proactive international conflict prevention education.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope from solely managing sister-state relationships to actively pursuing international revenue generation, investment opportunities, and broader international partnerships beyond traditional sister-state arrangements.

REQUIREMENT

Renamed the Hawaii sister-state committee to the Hawaii sister-state and international partnerships commission with expanded membership requirements including East-West Center and Office of Hawaiian Affairs representatives.

Added requirement for Office of International Affairs to develop international affairs and peace education curriculum focusing on conflict prevention and mediation.

SCOPE

Added authority for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish out-of-state offices and facilities to generate revenue and support international partnerships.

DEFINITION

Modified East-West Center statutory designation and exempted it from certain chapter 42F qualifying standards while maintaining state autonomy protections.

FISCAL

Added appropriations for Office of International Affairs to develop updated international engagement strategy and analyze investment opportunities abroad.

Added appropriations for East-West Center to assist in developing and maintaining international relationships and partnerships.

TIMELINE

Set effective date of July 1, 2050, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the East-West Center's establishment.

SB1578_CD1 → SB1578_HD1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's international engagement strategy by formally renaming the East-West Center, exempting it from certain state fund restrictions, and creating a new commission to manage sister-state partnerships. It also expands the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's authority to establish out-of-state facilities for revenue generation and partnership support. The legislation includes new funding appropriations for strategic planning and international relationship maintenance, though specific dollar amounts remain blank for legislative approval.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of international partnerships from primarily sister-state relationships to include broader international partnerships that can generate revenue for the State. It also modifies the governance structure by renaming the Hawaii sister-state committee to the Hawaii sister-state and international partnerships commission and changing appointment requirements.

DEFINITION

Renamed the 'East-West Center' to 'Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West, Inc.' as its official designation

ELIGIBILITY

Exempted East-West Center state fund appropriations from chapter 42F requirements while maintaining standards for contractors and providers

REQUIREMENT

Created the Hawaii sister-state and international partnerships commission with new membership requirements including representatives from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and East-West Center

Added requirements for the East-West Center to submit annual reports to the legislature and maintain specific governance standards including tax-exempt status and conflict of interest policies

FISCAL

Appropriated funds for the Office of International Affairs to develop an updated international engagement strategy and analyze investment opportunities abroad

Appropriated funds for the East-West Center to assist in developing and maintaining international relationships and partnerships

SCOPE

Expanded Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism authority to establish out-of-state facilities for sister-state partnerships, revenue generation, and property acquisition

TIMELINE

Set effective date as July 1, 3000, which appears to be a placeholder or error that will need correction

Floor votes · Senate Feb 19, 2025

How they voted

14–0

Passed

Total votes 14

Feb 19, 2025

D Democratic13

13 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican1

1 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, Fevella, McKelvey). Excused, 0 (none).

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 205) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 205).

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Takenouchi, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 9:00AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 9:50AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 618).

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1345) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Todd, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Holt.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 372) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 21; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 4 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella, McKelvey). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (14-0)

senate

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA/EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 671) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Fukunaga, Kim; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA/EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA/EDT, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor