# Hawaii SB 1578: RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

Hawaii SB 1578, RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Chris Lee (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-06-03 (Act 158, 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1258).) (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1578-2025
- As of: 2026-10-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 1578
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-22
- Last action: 2025-06-03, Act 158, 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1258).
- Sponsor: Chris Lee (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: DBEDT, Office of International Affairs, Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission, East-West Center, Sister-State Partnerships, Appropriations, ECD, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 13 (285 yes, 10 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## 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 overview: provisions PRIA read

- Hawaii expands overseas partnership work: benefit, low. 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 depar…
- East-West Center gets funding rule relief: mixed, low. 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 Cen…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Chris Lee (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: C.
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-30 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 22 | 3 |   |
| 2025-04-30 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 1 |   |
| 2025-04-25 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-25 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 2 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-04 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-04 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-01 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-18 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN... | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-14 | House | The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 21 | 4 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | Senate | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-13 | Senate | The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-13 | Senate | The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 1 |   |

## Actions (48)

- 2025-06-03: Act 158, 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1258). (Senate)
- 2025-06-03: Act 158, on 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1258). (House)
- 2025-05-02: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821). (Senate)
- 2025-05-02: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888). (House)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, Fevella, McKelvey). Excused, 0 (none). (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: 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). (House)
- 2025-04-25: 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. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: 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. (House)
- 2025-04-25: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 205). (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 205) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2025-04-25: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25. (House)
- 2025-04-24: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 9:00AM; Conference Room 329. (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 9:50AM; Conference Room 329. (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 329. (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chair; DeCoite, Hashimoto Co-Chairs. (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 848). (House)
- 2025-04-15: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 731). (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: House Conferees Appointed: Ilagan, Takenouchi Co-Chairs; Matsumoto. (House)
- 2025-04-08: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 618). (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 774). (House)
- 2025-04-04: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1957), recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-04: Passed 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). (House)
- 2025-04-04: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-04-01: 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. (House)
- 2025-03-28: Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-01-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-18: Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1345) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-03-18: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-03-14: 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. (House)
- 2025-03-11: Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Friday, 03-14-25 10:00AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: 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. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 372) in amended form (SD 2). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 841) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: 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. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from TCA/EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 671) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: 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. (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: 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. (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: The committee(s) on TCA/EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to TCA/EDT, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_CD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1258_.PDF)
- SB1578_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_CD1_.HTM)
- SB1578_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_HD1_.HTM)
- SB1578_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_SD1_.HTM)
- SB1578_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_SD2_.HTM)

## Related bills

- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)
- SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_CD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1258_.PDF)
- [SB1578_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_CD1_.HTM)
- [SB1578_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB1578_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB1578_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1578_SD2_.HTM)

## Related
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1044-2025)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1578-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).