STAND. COM. REP. NO.  20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

 

RE:   H.B. No. 29

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

 

Madame:

 

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 29 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COUNTIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the counties to implement additional enforcement mechanisms to address severe public nuisances that remain unmitigated after the exhaustion of all other existing remedies.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu and four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that neglected properties often constitute public nuisances and can pose significant risks to public health, safety, and neighboring properties.  Your Committee further finds that although the counties may initiate a non-judicial foreclosure for the collection of real property tax liens, there is no similar process when an administrative lien is placed on properties that become public nuisances.  This measure is intended to extend the counties' authority to initiate non-judicial forecloses on neglected properties after the counties have exercised all other existing remedies.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring counties to remit all revenues from the sale of the property in excess of any unpaid civil fines to the property owner;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 29, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 29, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair