STAND. COM. REP. NO. 951

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 79

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 S.B. No. 79, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to determine the effect of any certain proposed housing projects within ninety days of a request for determination;

(2) Establish historical review requirements based on the project area's known historic, cultural, and archaeological resources; and

(3) Establish procedures and notification requirements if previously unidentified human remains or previously unidentified historic or cultural resources are discovered.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committee finds that it essential that the State address the shortage of affordable housing. Your Committee further finds that the State Historic Preservation Division has a lengthy backlog of historic preservation reviews which leads to delays and increased costs in the development of affordable housing projects. Accordingly, this measure streamlines the historic review process to expedite the development of affordable housing projects in the State.

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 S.B. No. 79, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair