STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1652

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.C.R. No. 157

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 157 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE TASK FORCE FOR SPEED (SIMPLIFYING PERMITTING FOR ENHANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT) TO IDENTIFY ACTIONS NEEDED TO EXPEDITE, FACILITATE, AND COORDINATE STATE AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL PERMIT PROCESSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Task Force for SPEED (Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development) to identify actions needed to expedite, facilitate, and coordinate state and intergovernmental permit processes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Land Use Commission; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Public Utilities Commission; and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the permitting process can be subject to lengthy waiting periods, leading to delays in housing, industrial, and commercial projects and slowing economic development. This measure helps bring together representatives from various agencies responsible for permitting to address challenges and actions needed to improve the permitting process.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 157 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,

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GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair