STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1674

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 511

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 511, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Provide that a survey of the land to be set aside shall not be a condition precedent to the setting aside of public lands to any department or agency of the State; and

(2) Clarify survey requirements for the transfer of public lands.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Kapapala Ranch; and three individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻAina, and nine individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that Act 90, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, was intended to ensure that agricultural lands managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources would be transferred to the Department of Agriculture to provide long-term stability for farmers and ranchers. While some progress has been made, many qualifying lands have yet to be transferred due to procedural and administrative delays, including the requirement for land surveys. Your Committee further finds that surveys can be costly and time‑consuming, delaying the transition of lands that are already being used for agricultural production. By allowing transfers to proceed without requiring a survey upfront, this measure will provide an important tool to facilitate the timely execution of these transfers while still allowing for surveys to be conducted later when necessary.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 511, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair