Bill > SB406

This bill amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 92-21 to regulate the fees that government agencies can charge for reproducing copies of public records. The bill specifically limits the cost of reproducing digital copies of already digitized government records to no more than 5 cents per digital record. For non-digital records, the minimum reproduction cost remains at 5 cents per page. The bill clarifies that reproduction costs can include various expenses such as labor for searching and reproducing records, material costs, electricity, equipment rental, certification, and other related expenses. Fees collected under this provision must be paid to the appropriate government finance director or agency. The legislation is designed to provide transparency and affordability in accessing government records, ensuring that public information remains accessible while allowing agencies to recover reasonable reproduction costs. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2525, which appears to be a placeholder date, suggesting the actual implementation date may be adjusted before final passage.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=406&year=2026