STAND. COM. REP. NO. 456-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1672

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1672 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to broaden the counties' authority to create special improvement districts by expanding the objective of these districts to include environmental protection and preservation, natural resource management, and natural hazard mitigation.

Your Committees 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 Resiliency Initiative, Waikīkī Beach Special Improvement District Association, Ko‘olau Waialua Alliance, Surfrider Foundation - Hawai‘i Region, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, and seven individuals.

Your Committees find that Hawaii is being exposed to a variety of threats that affect its environment and ecosystems, including the effects of climate change, such as the increase in the frequency and severity of storms and drought, sea level rise, groundwater inundation, and coastal erosion. These threats are of particular concern to the State due to its island topography and substantial coastal exposure.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Adding climate change and sea level rise adaptation as a purpose for the creation of a special improvement district by a county;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1672, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1672, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair