STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2257

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2129

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2129 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:

(1) Expand the definition of "historic property" for purposes of the Historic Preservation Program; and

(2) Exempt state projects on state-owned buildings from State Historic Preservation Division review unless the affected property is more than one hundred years old or on, or being added to, the Hawaii Register of Historic Places or the National Register of Historic Places.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Koʻolau Foundation and Building Industry Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation and Society for Hawaiian Archaeology.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that state projects on state-owned buildings require review from the State Historic Preservation Division, which often slows the project. However, your Committee also finds that exempting state projects on state-owned buildings from review will diminish the State's leadership in the field of historic preservation. This measure will ensure that the State remains a leader in the field of historic preservation by setting an example in how it manages its own historic properties.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing language that would have exempted projects on state-owned buildings from State Historic Preservation Division review unless the affected property is more than one hundred years old or on or being added to the Hawaii register of historic places or the national register of historic places;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2129, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2129, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair