All Roll Calls
Yes: 285 • No: 10
HawaiiSB 15782025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)Senate
RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Sponsored By: Chris Lee (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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)
DBEDTOffice of International AffairsHawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships CommissionEast-West CenterSister-State PartnershipsAppropriationsECD, FIN
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Hawaii expands overseas partnership work
Starting July 1, 2025, Hawaii’s business and economic development department may open offices outside the state, including in other countries. The offices may support international partnerships and help generate revenue for the State. The budget and finance director must approve them, and the department cannot commit money that has not been appropriated. The Office of International Affairs must also support the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission; the law does not specify the form or cost of that support.
East-West Center gets funding rule relief
Starting July 1, 2025, the East-West Center is exempt from some state funding standards. It must still meet licensing, tax-exempt status, nondiscrimination, and governance requirements. State funds cannot pay for entertainment or lobbying in Hawaii, and state officials may review their use. The Center must report its work with state funds to the legislature at least 20 days before each regular session. Chapter 42F rules apply when the Center contracts with a recipient or provider.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Chris Lee
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
C.
Affiliation unavailable
Stanley Chang
Democratic • Senate
Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/30/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 22 • No: 3
House vote • 4/30/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 49 • No: 1
House vote • 4/25/2025
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments....
Yes: 3 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/25/2025
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS....
Yes: 2 • No: 0
House vote • 4/4/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 49 • No: 0
House vote • 4/4/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 49 • No: 0
House vote • 4/1/2025
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ...
Yes: 14 • No: 0
House vote • 3/18/2025
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN...
Yes: 49 • No: 0
House vote • 3/14/2025
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 21 • No: 4
Senate vote • 2/19/2025
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/13/2025
The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 4 • No: 1
Senate vote • 2/13/2025
The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 4 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Act 158, 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1258).
6/3/2025SenateAct 158, on 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1258).
6/3/2025HouseReceived notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821).
5/2/2025SenateEnrolled to Governor.
5/2/2025SenateReceived notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888).
5/1/2025HousePassed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, Fevella, McKelvey). Excused, 0 (none).
4/30/2025SenatePassed 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).
4/30/2025HouseThe 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.
4/25/2025SenateThe 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.
4/25/2025HouseReported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 205).
4/25/2025Senate48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25.
4/25/2025SenateReported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 205) as amended in (CD 1).
4/25/2025HouseForty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25.
4/25/2025HouseConference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 9:00AM; Conference Room 329.
4/24/2025SenateConference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 9:50AM; Conference Room 329.
4/23/2025SenateConference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 329.
4/22/2025SenateSenate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chair; DeCoite, Hashimoto Co-Chairs.
4/21/2025SenateReceived notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 848).
4/21/2025HouseReceived notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 731).
4/15/2025SenateHouse Conferees Appointed: Ilagan, Takenouchi Co-Chairs; Matsumoto.
4/14/2025HouseReceived from House (Hse. Com. No. 618).
4/8/2025SenateSenate disagrees with House amendments.
4/8/2025SenateReceived notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 774).
4/8/2025HouseReported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1957), recommending passage on Third Reading.
4/4/2025HousePassed Second Reading; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela excused (2).
4/4/2025House
Bill Text
Bill Text
Original
SB1578_CD1
SB1578_HD1
SB1578_SD1
SB1578_SD2
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