SB 441 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE HAWAII SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

Summary

Designates the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. Exempts general fund appropriations to the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra from the requirements of chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for general operating costs of the Orchestra and for deposit into the State of Hawaii Endowment Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Apr 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB441_HD1 → SB441_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House draft to a Senate version, significantly rewriting the legislative findings to remove references to past financial instability and bankruptcy while emphasizing the orchestra's historical mission. The funding section was modified to remove a specific appropriation for the State of Hawaii Endowment Fund and streamlined the list of required services, while the effective date was changed from the distant year 3000 to 2050.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on designating the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as a state entity and providing funding, but the justification for this designation shifted from addressing financial crisis to recognizing ongoing public service.

REQUIREMENT

The legislative findings were rewritten to remove mentions of the orchestra's bankruptcy and asset liquidation, replacing them with a focus on its 1900 founding and current role in promoting local talent.

FISCAL

A separate appropriation line item for depositing funds into the State of Hawaii Endowment Fund was deleted from the Senate version.

ELIGIBILITY

The list of free services required in exchange for funding was shortened, removing specific mentions of neighbor island access and educational programming standards.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 3000, to July 1, 2050.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting changes were made to the report requirements, such as changing 'prior to the convening' to 'before the legislature convenes'.

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

Amendments

Apr 17, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to WLA, WAM.

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 464).

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 13 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Alcos, Ward.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1301) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Kong, Lee, M., Sayama, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Garrett.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to CAA, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 159) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 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, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 480) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-25 3:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA, WAM.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.