STAND. COM. REP. NO. 602

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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 830, H.D. 1, 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, through the State Historic Preservation Division and subject to approval from the appropriate island burial council, to contract its review of proposed state projects, projects on privately owned historic property, and projects involving entitlements for use that may affect historic properties to third-party consultants if the Department will not be able to complete its review within sixty days.

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

Your Committee finds that the process for preserving historical sites needs to improve in efficiency of review and decision-making. However, your Committee also recognizes that relying on third-party consultants could be challenging for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, especially if the State Historic Preservation Division is responsible for covering the costs related to contracting these external experts.

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. 830, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair