STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3466

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 119

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.C.R. No. 119 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE COMMISSION TO DEVELOP AN INTEGRATED LAND USE PLAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and Land Use Commission to develop an integrated land use plan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Land Use Commission.

Your Committee finds that there are various, sometimes-competing state plans, goals, and objectives regarding land use in the State, including the need for land to increase food sustainability, promote renewable energy resources, address the shortage of affordable housing, and adapt to and mitigate sea level rise and climate change. Your Committee further finds that an integrated land use plan would help to address these sometimes conflicting plans, particularly with respect to agriculture, energy, and housing. Your Committee believes that the creation of an integrated land use plan to guide the State's planning and decision-making on agriculture, energy, and housing will benefit the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language requesting the State Sustainability Coordinator to lead the development of the integrated land use plan;

(2) Amending the deadline by which the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and Land Use Commission are requested to submit the integrated land use plan from December 1, 2024, to December 1, 2026;

(3) Inserting language requesting the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to report on the progress of the integrated land use plan and the progress of data-based estimates to achieve this measure's objectives to the Legislature and Land Use Commission by December 1, 2025;

(4) Inserting language requesting the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to update and report on the integrated land use study to the Legislature and Land Use Commission every five years;

(5) Inserting language requesting an amendment to the state budget to appropriate $500,000 to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development for the necessary resources to conduct the integrated land use study; and

(6) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 119, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 119, S.D. 1.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair