Report Title:

Exceptional Trees; Tax Credit

Description:

Authorizes counties to establish a credit against real property taxes for exceptional trees. (SD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1848

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO EXCEPTIONAL TREES.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that an exceptional tree is a tree with historic or cultural value or that, by reason of its age, rarity, location, size, esthetic quality, or endemic status, is worthy of preservation. Such exceptional trees benefit the community at large, as well as the individual property owner. The purpose of this Act is to provide property owners with a tax incentive to maintain any tree on their property that has been designated as an exceptional tree.

SECTION 2. Chapter 246, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§246-   Exceptional trees; tax credit. (a) A county, by ordinance, may allow any taxpayer who is subject to the tax imposed under this chapter to claim an exceptional tree tax credit under this section against the taxpayer's real property tax liability in each year the tax credit is properly claimed.

(b) The amount of and qualifications for the tax credit shall be determined by the county where the exceptional tree is located.

(c) For the purpose of this section, the term "exceptional tree" shall have the same meaning as defined in section 58-3."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010, and shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003.