STAND. COM. REP. NO. 796

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 226

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 226 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND EXCHANGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Governor to negotiate land exchanges to acquire lands suitable for long-term diversified agricultural production in return for state lands to be developed for affordable, workforce, and other housing.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Ulupono Initiative.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Kupuna for the Moopuna.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of Planning, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Conservation Council for Hawaii, and Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the measure will help support local food production, while also addressing the critical shortage of affordable, workforce, and other housing.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Codifying the language of section 2 of the measure as a new section in Chapter 171, part II, subpart C, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Making the measure's reporting requirement annual;

(3) Correcting a statutory cross-reference; and

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 226, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 226, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair