STAND. COM. REP. NO. 215

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 830

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 Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 830 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to contract its review of proposed state projects, projects on privately owned historic property, and projects affecting historic properties to third-party consultants if the Department is unable to complete its review within sixty days.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Mayor of the County of Maui; NAIOP Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; and Maui Chamber of Commerce. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that the historic preservation review process needs to streamline the timeliness of its reviews and decisions. Your Committee notes that the use of third-party consultants may not be feasible for the Department of Land and Natural Resources if the State Historic Preservation Division is required to cover the expenses associated with contracting with the third party.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing the State Historic Preservation Division to assess the costs of retaining a third-party consultant to the applicable project proponent;

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

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 830, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 830, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

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

____________________________

LUKE A. EVSLIN, Chair