SR 93 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

CONVENING A WORKING GROUP TO ESTABLISH A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE TO SUPPORT ARTS AND CULTURE ENGAGEMENT AND RELATED INITIATIVES.

This Senate Resolution creates a working group to study how Hawaii could establish a state-recognized nonprofit organization to support arts and culture programs. The group will examine successful models from other states, review governance structures, and develop recommendations for a nonprofit that could host artist residencies and educational initiatives. The working group will include representatives from relevant legislative committees and the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and must submit its findings to the Legislature by early 2027. This resolution does not create the nonprofit itself but sets up a process to determine how such an organization could be structured and funded.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action May 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SR93 → SR93_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to streamline the creation of a nonprofit arts organization by removing the requirement for a preliminary 'recommendations' phase and mandating immediate establishment. The chair of the working group was changed from a joint role to a single leader from the Senate, and the group's composition was adjusted to be invited solely by that single chair rather than jointly. The scope of partnerships was expanded to include organizations outside Hawaii, and the reporting deadline was clarified to cover only the 2027 and 2028 sessions.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a preliminary study to mandate the immediate convening of a working group to establish a nonprofit organization. The applicability of the working group's leadership and membership selection process was narrowed to the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee with primary jurisdiction.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the working group's mandate from developing 'recommendations' for a nonprofit to directly 'establish' the nonprofit organization.

Altered the working group's leadership from a joint chair (Senate and House) to a single chair appointed by the Senate Standing Committee with primary jurisdiction over arts and culture.

Modified the appointment authority for working group members, changing it from joint invitation by both chairs to invitation solely by the single Senate chair.

SCOPE

Expanded the scope of potential partnerships to include organizations in other places, not just within Hawaii.

TIMELINE

Clarified the reporting deadline to apply to the convening of the 2027 and 2028 Regular Sessions.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3591) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 04-08-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA.

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors