STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1975-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2922

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2922, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RURAL DISTRICTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Beginning July 1, 2023, authorize the counties to adopt ordinances that allow up to one house per quarter-acre in rural districts;

(2) Beginning July 1, 2022, require the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to conduct a study to refine rural district policies, make recommendations to facilitate the reclassification of lands from the agricultural district to the rural district, and submit reports to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriate funds to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to conduct the study and complete the reports.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Finance, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

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. 2922, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair