HB 2474HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii allows nonbinding agreements with foreign governments

Since July 1, 2026, Hawaii’s governor may propose nonbinding agreements with foreign governments, and the legislature may enter them by resolution or state law.

What it does

Hawaii’s governor may propose nonbinding agreements with foreign governments or regional bodies. The legislature may enter them by resolution or state law, but they cannot create legally enforceable obligations.

Hawaii law defines sister-state or province partnerships to include partnerships with foreign prefectures, similar government subdivisions, and foreign nations.

The commission may review proposed partnerships and agreements, considering how they would support key state priorities. The legislature may act on a recommendation by resolution or state law.

Argument forState officials could work with foreign governments and regional groups on shared concerns such as education, agriculture, and climate resilience.

Argument againstBecause these agreements are nonbinding, partners might have no legal way to enforce the shared commitments if the State does not follow through.

More detail

The governor may propose a nonbinding international agreement and send it to the legislature. The legislature may enter one by concurrent resolution or state law. Agreements may be with national governments or their ministries, departments, or agencies; provincial or regional governments; and international intergovernmental bodies relevant to Hawaii’s or a partner’s interests. An agreement made this way cannot create legally enforceable obligations or be a treaty, alliance, compact, or other agreement barred by the U.S. Constitution. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Hawaii law defines a sister-state or province partnership to include partnerships with a foreign prefecture, similar government subdivision, or foreign nation. The definition covers partnerships between Hawaii and a foreign state, province, prefecture, similar governmental or political subdivision, or foreign nation. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

The commission may review proposed partnerships or international agreements and recommend them to the legislature. The Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission may review sister-state or province partnerships and international cooperative agreements. Any review must consider how the proposed partnership or agreement would support key state initiatives, including economic development, trade, education, agriculture, and biosecurity. The legislature may implement a recommendation by concurrent resolution or state law. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

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Where it stands

IntroducedJan 27
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 14
To Governor
Became LawJun 26

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 26Act 181, 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1283).Latest
2. Jun 26Act 181, on 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1283).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 11:40 AM; Conference Room 411.
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
9. May 1Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 4:32PM in Conference Room 411.
10. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., DeCoite, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
11. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 153-26) as amended in (CD 1).
13. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
14. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 153-26).
15. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
16. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 11:00AM in conference room 229.
17. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 11:00AM in conference room 229.
18. Apr 24Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-28-26 11:00AM; Conference Room 229.
19. Apr 23Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 725).Minor
20. Apr 22Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; DeCoite, Kanuha Co-Chairs.
21. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Ilagan, Hussey Co-Chairs; Tam, Gedeon.
22. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
23. Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
24. Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
25. Apr 14Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
26. Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 696) in amended form (SD 2).
27. Apr 9Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3681) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
28. Apr 948 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.
29. Apr 6The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
30. Apr 1The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
31. Mar 30Reported from WLA/EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3395) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
32. Mar 30The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
33. Mar 30Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
34. Mar 23The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Fukunaga; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kim, Fevella.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
35. Mar 23The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao, DeCorte.Minor
36. Mar 20The committee(s) on WLA/EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 1:15PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
37. Mar 10Referred to WLA/EDT, WAM.Minor
38. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 111).Minor
39. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
40. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 774-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
41. Mar 5Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Iwamoto voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
42. Mar 2The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
43. Feb 27Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
44. Feb 18Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 423-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
45. Feb 18Passed 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 none excused (0).Minor
46. Feb 13The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
47. Feb 10Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Friday, 02-13-26 8:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
48. Feb 2Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 6Minor
49. Jan 28Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
50. Jan 27Pending introduction.Introduced

Foreign PolicyGovernment & Ethics

Issue with this bill?

HB 2474HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii allows nonbinding agreements with foreign governments

Since July 1, 2026, Hawaii’s governor may propose nonbinding agreements with foreign governments, and the legislature may enter them by resolution or state law.

What it does

Hawaii law defines sister-state or province partnerships to include partnerships with foreign prefectures, similar government subdivisions, and foreign nations.

The commission may review proposed partnerships and agreements, considering how they would support key state priorities. The legislature may act on a recommendation by resolution or state law.

Argument forState officials could work with foreign governments and regional groups on shared concerns such as education, agriculture, and climate resilience.

Argument againstBecause these agreements are nonbinding, partners might have no legal way to enforce the shared commitments if the State does not follow through.

More detail

Where do you stand?

Tell your reps

Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.

More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 27
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 14
To Governor
Became LawJun 26

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 26Act 181, 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1283).Latest
2. Jun 26Act 181, on 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1283).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 11:40 AM; Conference Room 411.
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
9. May 1Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 4:32PM in Conference Room 411.
10. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., DeCoite, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
11. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 153-26) as amended in (CD 1).
13. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
14. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 153-26).
15. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
16. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 11:00AM in conference room 229.
17. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 11:00AM in conference room 229.
18. Apr 24Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-28-26 11:00AM; Conference Room 229.
19. Apr 23Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 725).Minor
20. Apr 22Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; DeCoite, Kanuha Co-Chairs.
21. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Ilagan, Hussey Co-Chairs; Tam, Gedeon.
22. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
23. Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
24. Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
25. Apr 14Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
26. Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 696) in amended form (SD 2).
27. Apr 9Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3681) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
28. Apr 948 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.
29. Apr 6The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
30. Apr 1The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
31. Mar 30Reported from WLA/EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3395) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
32. Mar 30The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
33. Mar 30Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
34. Mar 23The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Fukunaga; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kim, Fevella.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
35. Mar 23The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao, DeCorte.Minor
36. Mar 20The committee(s) on WLA/EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 1:15PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
37. Mar 10Referred to WLA/EDT, WAM.Minor
38. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 111).Minor
39. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
40. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 774-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
41. Mar 5Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Iwamoto voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
42. Mar 2The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
43. Feb 27Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
44. Feb 18Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 423-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
45. Feb 18Passed 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 none excused (0).Minor
46. Feb 13The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
47. Feb 10Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Friday, 02-13-26 8:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
48. Feb 2Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 6Minor
49. Jan 28Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
50. Jan 27Pending introduction.Introduced

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History

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More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History