THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2168
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to LAND USE.

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

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds that the need for housing, preservation of agricultural lands for food sustainability, lands for energy production, lands for recreation and cultural practices, and climate change resiliency and sustainability set forth in the State 2050 Plan, all of significant concern, have, and will, increasingly come into competition with each other for the use of significant portions of the State's available agricultural lands. In order to ensure that the needs of the people of Hawaii are met and that the best lands for agriculture are preserved so that the State can progress towards meeting its food sustainability goals, be prepared for climate change, meet its clean energy needs, reduce its carbon footprint, and meet its sustainability goals while providing its people with affordable and sustainable housing, a comprehensive study needs to be undertaken to provide key answers to the needs of Hawaii's people.

Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to require the office of planning and sustainable development to conduct a study to determine and identify lands needed to achieve sustainability goals while meeting the needs of Hawaii's people.

SECTION 2. The office of planning and sustainable development shall conduct a comprehensive study to examine:

(1) How much land is needed to meet the needs of the people of Hawaii as set forth in the State 2050 Plan, including:

(A) Housing;

(B) Food production and sustainability;

(C) Energy production;

(D) Recreation and cultural practices; and

(E) Climate change resiliency;

(2) What lands on each of the islands are best suited for the identified uses and how they are to be allocated; and

(3) How the state can meet its goals for each of the land uses identified herein.

The study shall include a determination of needs and the acreage necessary to meet the needs of each island with regard to identified conflicting land uses.

The office of planning and sustainable development shall hold a minimum of two public meetings on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and the island of Hawaii, with at least one meeting on each island dedicated to community engagement at the outset of the study and another meeting to present each island with an initial draft of findings.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the hiring of staff, retention of planning firms, and contracts necessary to develop and undertake the study to meet the goals for this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of planning and sustainable development for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. The office of planning and sustainable development shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Study; Sustainability; State 2050 Plan; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to conduct a study examining the amount of land needed to meet the State 2050 Plan.

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