STAND. COM. REP. NO. 697-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1436

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1436, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand the authority of the counties to regulate the transfer of development rights to protect lands that are vulnerable to climate change, including sea level rise, coastal erosion, storm surge, and flooding.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; and one member of the Maui County Council. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the impacts and hazards of climate change continue to pose a grim threat to the State. The changes in sea level rise, impacted by storm surges and flooding, leads to coastal erosion, exorbitant property damage, and loss of life. This measure strengthens the counties' ability to protect lands that are vulnerable to impacts and hazards caused by climate change and facilitates the potential movement of development away from at-risk areas to locations that are more appropriate for development.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1436, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair