STAND. COM. REP. NO.  528-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2297

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2297 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to clarify that lands set aside by the Governor to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation for the primary purpose of developing affordable housing are exempt from the definition of "public lands".

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Kobayashi Group, LLC.; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; and seven individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Ka Lahui Hawaii Political Action Committee.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

 

     Your Committee finds that the exemption from the definition of "public lands" proposed by this measure will streamline the development of affordable housing on state land by reducing the number of approvals from the Department of Land and Natural Resources as affordable housing projects move forward from set-aside to leasing, entitlement, financing, and development phases.

 

     Your Committee notes it did not receive testimony on this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  As such, your Committee does not know their positions on this matter.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Providing that lands held by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation that are no longer needed for housing, financing, and development purposes be returned to the public trust administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2297, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2297, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

TOM BROWER, Chair