STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2702

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2766

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2766, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to assess the rural land use district law and submit reports that provide suggested revisions to facilitate the reclassification of agricultural district lands to rural district lands.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Department of Agriculture, and Hawaii Farm Bureau.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Land Use Commission.

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that because only 0.3 percent of all lands in the State, and none on Oahu, are classified as rural district lands, most rural communities exist on agricultural district lands.  Further, many people residing in these rural communities engage in subsistence or family farming, thereby benefiting from the reduced property tax rates.  Your Committee believes that the reports required by this measure will help to improve land use management by distinguishing lands for rural communities and subsistence or family farms from agricultural lands with bonafide farming, thus allowing for better protection of productive agricultural lands.

 

     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. 2766, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair