HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1521
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to government contracts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that transparency and accountability in government operations are fundamental to public trust. The legislature also finds that public agencies in the State increasingly rely on private contractors to perform government functions, including creating, maintaining, or using records critical to public oversight. The legislature believes it is critical to prevent the circumvention of public agencies' transparency obligations through the outsourcing of their government functions by ensuring that these records remain accessible under chapter 92F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, or more commonly known as Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to clarify that records created, received, maintained, or used by private contractors performing government functions on behalf of public agencies are subject to Hawaii's public records law.
SECTION 2. Chapter 92F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: §92F- ] [Underlined: Government contracts.] [Underlined: (a) A contract with an agency to perform a government function shall require the contractor to:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: Retain all records related to the performance of that function, following the agency's records retention schedule; and]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: Provide the agency with access to those records upon request.]
[Underlined: (b) All records retained by a contractor pursuant to this section shall be deemed government records for purposes of this part.]"[Underlined: ]
SECTION 3. Section 92F-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: "Government function" means a service, program, or activity that an agency is authorized or required by law to perform.]"
SECTION 4. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
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Report Title:
Government Contracts; Contractors; Public Records
Description:
Clarifies that records created, received, maintained, or used by private contractors performing government functions on behalf of public agencies shall be subject to the Uniform Information Practices Act.
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