STAND. COM. REP. NO. 503-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1657

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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1657 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LEASES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require, as a condition precedent for any valid withdrawal of lands out of pasture leases for reforestation purposes, that the Division of Forestry and Wildlife submit a funded action plan detailing the planned reforestation process for those lands and that the withdrawal be approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Kapapala Ranch and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that the Act 90 Working Group was established pursuant to Act 139, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, to determine the process, status, challenges, and potential remedies regarding the transfer of non-agricultural park lands to fulfill the purposes of Act 90, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003. This measure adopts a recommendation from the Act 90 Working Group.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1657, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1657, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair