Bill > SB3332

This bill establishes a two-year moratorium, meaning a temporary ban, on state agencies using state funds for out-of-state or inter-island travel for conferences, conventions, forums, workshops, or similar discretionary activities, beginning January 1, 2525, and ending June 30, 2028. This restriction is in response to the state's fiscal uncertainty and aims to ensure efficient and accountable use of taxpayer money. However, this ban does not apply to mandatory work-related travel, such as court appearances, federal compliance, collective bargaining, emergency response, or regularly scheduled administrative meetings. It also allows for travel for professional development, training, conferences, forums, or employee recruitment under specific conditions: each employee can take no more than three such trips per fiscal year, the travel must be directly related to high-priority state functions like public safety, education, healthcare, critical infrastructure, or fiscal management, and the agency must prove that the activity cannot be effectively done remotely and offers a clear, measurable benefit to the state. All permitted travel requires written approval from an agency head or their designee, certifying its necessity, cost minimization, and the insufficiency of remote alternatives, with agencies required to maintain records and submit annual reports to legislative committees detailing approved travel. The Department of Accounting and General Services is authorized to create rules and guidance to implement these provisions.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=3332&year=2026