Bill > HB2474

This bill expands Hawaii's ability to engage in international relations by authorizing the Governor and the Legislature to enter into nonbinding international cooperative agreements with foreign national governments, their subdivisions (like provinces or regions), and regional intergovernmental organizations, which are groups of countries working together. This is an update to existing law that primarily focused on "sister-state or province partnerships," which are formal relationships between Hawaii and another state or province in a foreign country. The Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission will now also review proposals for these broader international cooperative agreements, not just sister-state relationships, to help advance Hawaii's goals in areas like agriculture, climate resilience, and economic development. These agreements are explicitly stated to be nonbinding, meaning they do not create legally enforceable obligations and are not considered treaties or alliances.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2474&year=2026