Hawaii Symphony Orchestra designated state orchestra

Hawaii Legislative Events

Published March 10th, 2026

Detected April 7th, 2026

Summary

The Hawaii State Legislature passed HB1860 designating the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the official State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. The bill requires annual reports to the Legislature and exempts state funds received by the orchestra from Chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The measure passed both chambers with unanimous committee support.

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What changed

HB1860 designates the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the official state orchestra, making it the recognized cultural institution representing the State of Hawaii. The bill requires the organization to submit annual reports to the Hawaii State Legislature and exempts state funds received from Chapter 42F HRS (the state's grants management statute). The bill passed the House on March 10, 2026, and the Senate Ways and Means Committee unanimously on April 6, 2026.

The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra will need to establish compliance with annual legislative reporting requirements. The exemption from Chapter 42F HRS simplifies the organization's receipt and management of state funding by removing standard grants management obligations. No specific compliance deadlines or penalties are specified in the bill.

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Hawaii / HB1860 Passed HB1860 House Bill Passed 2026-03-10

Relating To The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra.

Designates the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Exempts state funds received by the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra from chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes. (SD1)

Bill Details

State Hawaii

Session 2026 Regular Session

Chamber House

Official Source www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_ind...

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Action History

2026-04-06 S The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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.. 2026-04-01 S The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-06-26 10:32AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. 2026-03-30 S Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. 2026-03-30 S Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3247) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. 2026-03-16 S The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. 2026-03-12 S The committee(s) on WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. 2026-03-12 S Referred to WLA, WAM. 2026-03-12 S Passed First Reading. 2026-03-12 S Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 302). 2026-03-10 H Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate. 2026-03-06 H Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26. 2026-03-06 H Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1023-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. 2026-02-26 H The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. 2026-02-24 H Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-26-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-02-12 H Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0). 2026-02-12 H Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 244-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. 2026-02-06 H The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Kong, Garrett, Lee, M.; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Reyes Oda. 2026-02-03 H Bill scheduled to be heard by CAA on Friday, 02-06-26 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-01-26 H Referred to CAA, FIN, referral sheet 2 2026-01-26 H Introduced and Pass First Reading. 2026-01-23 H Pending introduction.

Votes

2026-03-16 Senate Water, Land, and Agriculture: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 5 Nay: 0 2026-04-06 Senate Ways and Means: Passed, Unamended Yea: 12 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-26 H Culture & Arts 2026-02-12 H Finance 2026-03-12 S Water, Land, and Agriculture 2026-03-30 S Ways and Means

Bill Text Versions

2026-01-23 Introduced 2026-02-11 Amended 2026-03-06 Amended 2026-03-25 Amended

Subjects

State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Designation Funding State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra Reports Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)