THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	139
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to important housing lands.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§171-   Important housing lands; designation; objectives. (a) All state-owned lands that are located within one mile of any rail mass transit station, excluding lands under the jurisdiction of the department of Hawaiian home lands, shall be designated as important housing lands.

(b) Consistent with the findings and declaration of necessity pursuant to section 171-70, important housing lands are needed to promote the development of housing priced below market rates for eligible residents.

(c) The objective for the designation of important housing lands is to:

(1) Identify and plan for the maintenance of a strategic base of lands to meet housing demand for current and future generations;

(2) Create highly walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods that minimize car usage and maximize density; and

(3) Promote land development and land use planning that delineates blocks of promising land areas for housing opportunities.

(d) State and county housing policies, tax policies, land use plans, ordinances, and rules shall promote the long-term viability of important housing lands and shall be consistent with and implement the following policies:

(1) Promote the retention of important housing lands in blocks of contiguous, intact, and functional land units;

(2) Direct incompatible uses and activities from important housing lands to other areas and ensure that uses on important housing lands are actually for housing and mixed-use purposes;

(3) Provide infrastructure and services on important housing lands necessary to support housing uses and activities;

(4) Facilitate the long-term dedication of important housing lands for future housing needs through the use of incentives;

(5) Facilitate the access of low-income individuals to important housing lands for long-term viable housing use; and

(6) Promote the maintenance of essential housing infrastructure systems.

(e) For purposes of this section, "eligible resident" means a resident of the State who:

(1) Is an occupant of a dwelling unit on important housing lands; and

(2) Owns no other real property."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Important Housing Lands; Automatic Designation; Purpose

Description:

Establishes that all state-owned lands located within one mile of any rail mass transit station, excluding lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, shall be designated as important housing lands to promote the development of homes priced below market rates for eligible residents. Requires state and county housing policies, tax policies, land use plans, ordinances, and rules to promote the long-term viability of important housing lands consistent with certain policies.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.