STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1486

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 201

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 201, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the definition of "historic property" for purposes of the Historic Preservation Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, and Maui Chamber of Commerce. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from NAIOP Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that existing law defines a historic property as, "any building, structure, object, district, area, or site, including heiau and underwater site, which is over fifty years old". With the current definition, the number of homes and buildings that qualify has continued to increase. This can be challenging for homeowners that must comply with the historic preservation review process for permits, even when their properties have no historical significance. Furthermore, existing law can also be challenging for the State Historic Preservation Division, as they will have to review properties simply because the property is over fifty years old, even without historical significance. As such, amending the definition of a historic property to either properties that are over fifty years old that meet the criteria to be placed onto the Hawaii Register of Historic Places or has important value to Native Hawaiians or other ethnic groups may help address these challenges.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 201, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair