STAND. COM. REP. NO. 430

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 952

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 952 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to address the impacts of climate change in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program and Climate Resilience Collaborative, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Hawai‘i Reef Ocean Coalition, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, The Nature Conservancy, and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that climate change is the overarching challenge for the State. Your Committee further finds that this measure provides resources to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to protect, manage, and restore natural resources, including native forests, native plants and animals, aquatic resources, coastal lands, and freshwater resources.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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. 952, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 952, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair