Informing the Legislature that on June 8, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB1815 HD1 SD1 CD1 (ACT 122).

This bill, signed into law as Act 122, updates the rules for the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts in Hawaii to clarify who can receive grants. It directly affects organizations and individuals applying for funding by establishing specific eligibility standards and conditions for award recipients. To qualify, organizations must be for-profit or tax-exempt nonprofits with conflict-of-interest policies and at least one year of relevant experience, while individual applicants must be professionally recognized in their field. Once awarded a grant, recipients must agree to employ qualified staff, adhere to anti-discrimination laws, avoid using public funds for personal entertainment, and allow full access to their records for auditing purposes. The legislation also mandates that all grant requests follow a standardized review process using application forms provided by the foundation.