STAND. COM. REP. NO. 738-20

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2297, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Exempt lands set aside by the Governor to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation for the primary purpose of developing affordable housing from classification as public land subject to Department of Land and Natural Resources management and require legislative approval prior to the sale or gifting of these lands; and

(2) Provide that lands set aside to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and no longer needed for housing, finance, and development purposes be returned to the public trust administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2297, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair