STAND. COM. REP. NO. 700

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1393

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 Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1393 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE USE OF PUBLIC LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the School Facilities Authority to consult with the Department of Education and other impacted departments or agencies before the conveyance of ownership rights or lease of lands to the School Facilities Authority.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the School Facilities Authority.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education's 2023‑2029 Strategic Plan envisions a public education system for grades kindergarten through twelve that is globally competitive and locally committed. As the School Facilities Authority does not hold title to land, ensuring the proper transfer of ownership rights will ensure the continued development of necessary school facilities. Therefore, this measure ensures cooperation between education agencies to ensure optimal learning and teaching environments for educational communities statewide.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have required the Department of Education to transfer land upon terms and conditions as may be agreed to by the parties; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1393, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1393, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair