STAND. COM. REP. NO. 879-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2358

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2358, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt certain affordable housing projects from environmental impact statement requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and NAIOP Hawaii. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Free Access Coalition; Kupuna for the Moopuna; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; CleanEarth4Kids.org; Livable Hawaii Kai Hui; and numerous individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2358, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair