STAND. COM. REP. NO. 411-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1546

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1546 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RESTORATION OF BEACH LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of "beach restoration" used in laws governing the Board of Land and Natural Resources' powers to engage in beach restoration to include activities undertaken to maintain and improve eroded beaches and degraded dune systems and to remove abandoned and remnant manmade materials that pose a risk to the health of the public and ecosystem.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Planning & Sustainable Development; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher.

Your Committee finds that sea level rise poses a serious and imminent threat to Hawaii's coastal communities and residents and to Hawaii's natural resources, primarily beaches and coastal ecosystems. Additionally, the State has an affirmative duty to preserve beaches as a public trust resource for the people of Hawaii. This measure highlights the cultural and ecological importance of beaches by expanding the types of beach restoration activities the Board of Land and Natural Resources may undertake in response to the increasing threat of sea level rise and beach loss.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 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. 1546, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1546, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair