STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1722

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.C.R. No. 107

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.C.R. No. 107 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO EXEMPT FROM REAL PROPERTY TAX THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS WITHIN ONE-HALF MILE OF AN ACTIVE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILL OR CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION LANDFILL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the City and County of Honolulu to exempt from real property tax property owners of residential units within one-half mile of an active municipal solid waste landfill or construction and demolition landfill.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers; Iron Workers Stabilization Fund; and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that the scientific consensus is that landfills, specifically construction and demolition landfills, have negative health impacts for those who live, work, and play in close proximity. Your Committee further finds that residents within one-half mile of an active operation of municipal solid waste landfills or construction and demolition landfills are disproportionately burdened and could apply savings from a property tax exemption to address their individual health and safety needs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting additional information regarding the significant health impacts for individuals who live near an active landfill;

(2) Additionally urging the City and County of Honolulu to exempt from real property tax owners of residential units outside one-half mile of an active landfill but within neighborhoods that are deemed by the City and County of Honolulu to have been impacted by an active landfill to a degree that would warrant such an exemption;

(3) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(4) 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 107, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 107, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair