THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 53 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D. 1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D. 1 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE COMPTROLLER TO COOPERATE WITH THE HAWAII STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND HAWAII BROADBAND AND DIGITAL EQUITY OFFICE TO IDENTIFY RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE WITH A NEED FOR BETTER TELECOMMUNICATION ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 53
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII H.D. 1
THE SENATE
S.C.R. NO.
53
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
H.D. 1
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE COMPTROLLER TO COOPERATE WITH THE HAWAII STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND HAWAII BROADBAND AND DIGITAL EQUITY OFFICE TO IDENTIFY RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE WITH A NEED FOR BETTER TELECOMMUNICATION ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
WHEREAS, providing access for residents to participate in the state legislative process is a basic right of citizenship in the State and should continue to be a priority; and WHEREAS, ensuring equitable access to the state legislative process for nearly four hundred fifty thousand residents on the neighbor islands, as well as those in rural Oʻahu, is essential to strengthening civic engagement, enhancing the effectiveness of the legislative process, and ensuring fair and accurate representation on issues impacting the entire State; and WHEREAS, with the rising costs of airfare, gas, and lodging, providing designated locations or state offices on neighbor islands and in rural Oʻahu where citizens can participate remotely in the state legislative process will help reduce the financial burden of participation and further boost civic engagement; and WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Public Library System has long provided free public access to broadband internet and computer equipment and is therefore well-prepared to serve as a conduit for facilitating remote legislative participation; and WHEREAS, with a network of fifty-one libraries across the State, all of which have broadband capabilities and various electronic devices, including Chromebooks, the Hawaii State Public Library System has the infrastructure and resources to support public access to the Internet and videoconferencing, making it uniquely well-suited to assist individuals in participating in the state legislative process; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Comptroller is requested to cooperate with the Hawaii State Public Library System, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office to identify rural and underserved communities with a need for better telecommunication access for residents, including those with developmental disabilities, to participate in the state legislative process; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Comptroller is requested to submit to the Legislature a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Comptroller, State Librarian, Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Strategic Broadband Coordinator of the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office, and Executive Director of the Disability and Communication Access Board. Report Title: LRB; HSPLS; Civic Engagement; Accessibility
WHEREAS, providing access for residents to participate in the state legislative process is a basic right of citizenship in the State and should continue to be a priority; and
WHEREAS, ensuring equitable access to the state legislative process for nearly four hundred fifty thousand residents on the neighbor islands, as well as those in rural Oʻahu, is essential to strengthening civic engagement, enhancing the effectiveness of the legislative process, and ensuring fair and accurate representation on issues impacting the entire State; and
WHEREAS, with the rising costs of airfare, gas, and lodging, providing designated locations or state offices on neighbor islands and in rural Oʻahu where citizens can participate remotely in the state legislative process will help reduce the financial burden of participation and further boost civic engagement; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Public Library System has long provided free public access to broadband internet and computer equipment and is therefore well-prepared to serve as a conduit for facilitating remote legislative participation; and
WHEREAS, with a network of fifty-one libraries across the State, all of which have broadband capabilities and various electronic devices, including Chromebooks, the Hawaii State Public Library System has the infrastructure and resources to support public access to the Internet and videoconferencing, making it uniquely well-suited to assist individuals in participating in the state legislative process; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Comptroller is requested to cooperate with the Hawaii State Public Library System, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office to identify rural and underserved communities with a need for better telecommunication access for residents, including those with developmental disabilities, to participate in the state legislative process; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Comptroller is requested to submit to the Legislature a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Comptroller, State Librarian, Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Strategic Broadband Coordinator of the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office, and Executive Director of the Disability and Communication Access Board.
Report Title:
LRB; HSPLS; Civic Engagement; Accessibility