STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1922

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 739

S.D. 2

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 739, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND EXCHANGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Allow the Governor, subject to approval by the Board of Land and Natural Resources, to negotiate the acquisition of private lands that are suitable for long-term diversified agricultural production in exchange for state lands to be acquired by private parties for development of affordable, workforce, or other housing development; and

(2) Require the Governor to report to the Legislature the feasibility of certain land exchanges and certain related information and any appropriations, proposed legislation, or administrative action necessary to accomplish the goals of this measure.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Agribusiness Development Corporation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 739, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair