STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2232

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.C.R. No. 57

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 57, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO EXEMPT FROM REAL PROPERTY TAX THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS WITHIN ONE-HALF MILE OF AN ACTIVE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILL OR CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION LANDFILL OR DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY AN ACTIVE LANDFILL TO A DEGREE THAT WARRANTS SUCH AN EXEMPTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the City and County of Honolulu to exempt from real property tax those property owners of residential units within one-half mile of an active municipal solid waste landfill or construction and demolition landfill or deemed to have been impacted by an active landfill to a degree that warrants such an exemption.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund, Hydroponics Alternatives LLC, and seven individuals.

Your Committees find that the scientific consensus is that landfills, specifically construction and demolition landfills, have adverse health effects for those who live, work, and play in close proximity. Your Committees further find that residents who live within one-half mile of an active operation of municipal solid waste landfills or construction and demolition landfills and some residents who live outside of the one-half-mile radius are disproportionately burdened and could apply savings from a property tax exemption to address their individual health and safety needs.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 57, S.D. 1, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair