STAND. COM. REP. NO. 422-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2029

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. 2029 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to assume historic preservation review of any proposed project for lands under its jurisdiction, except for projects affecting properties listed or nominated for inclusion in the Hawaii Register of Historic Places or the National Register of Historic Places.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation.

Your Committee finds that it is critical to protect and manage the State's historic properties and burial sites. Existing law requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, prior to any proposed project relating to lands under its jurisdiction, to consult with the Department of Land and Natural Resources regarding the effect of the project upon historic property or a burial site. This measure streamlines decision-making related to proposed projects on historic properties and burial sites under the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' jurisdiction while ensuring that the review is competently performed and appropriately documented.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to provide the Department of Land and Natural Resources with written notice of the following:

(A) That it has employed a qualified historic preservation professional to manage the review program; and

(B) A description of the procedures that will ensure all relevant documentation will be provided for inclusion in the archives and data management system;

(2) Requiring the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to provide notice to the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the public prior to assuming responsibility for project review;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2029, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2029, 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