Bill > SB3280

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 ministries or departments, foreign subnational jurisdictions (like provinces or regions), and international intergovernmental bodies, particularly those in Asia and the Pacific, to advance the state's cultural, educational, environmental, and economic goals. These agreements are explicitly stated to be nonbinding, meaning they do not create legally enforceable obligations and are not considered treaties or alliances. The bill also designates the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission to review proposals for these new international cooperative agreements, as well as existing sister-state or province partnerships, and to make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. The existing law, Chapter 229 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which previously focused primarily on sister-state or province partnerships, is amended to reflect this broader scope, including updating its title to "International Relations; Sister-State or Province Partnerships; International Cooperative Agreements."