STAND. COM. REP. NO. 304

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1137

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. 1137 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RESTORATION OF BEACH LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of "beach restoration" to expand the types of activities the State recognizes as restorative and beneficial to beach lands in response to sea level rise and beach loss.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program and Climate Resilience Collaborative; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the existing definition of "beach restoration" is limited to the placement of sand on eroded beaches and that other activities, such as sand management, native vegetation management, and removal of abandoned materials from public beaches are restorative and beneficial to beach restoration. This measure will provide the Department of Land and Natural Resources with flexibility to proactively manage and care for beach resources.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 1137, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1137, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair