HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1901
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 6E-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§6E-8 Review of effect of proposed state projects. (a) Before any agency or officer of the State or its political subdivisions commences any project which may affect historic property, aviation artifact, or a burial site, the agency or officer shall advise the department and allow the department an opportunity for review of the effect of the proposed project on historic properties, aviation artifacts, or burial sites, consistent with section 6E-43, especially those listed on the Hawaii register of historic places. The proposed project shall not be commenced, or if it has already begun, continued, until the department has given its written concurrence. If:

(1) The proposed project consists of corridors or large land areas;

(2) Access to properties is restricted; or

(3) Circumstances dictate that construction be done in stages,

the department may give its written concurrence based on a phased review of the project; provided that there shall be a programmatic agreement between the department and the project applicant that identifies each phase and the estimated timelines for each phase.

The department shall provide written concurrence or non-concurrence within ninety days after the filing of a request with the department. The agency or officer seeking to proceed with the project, or any person, may appeal the department's concurrence or non-concurrence to the Hawaii historic places review board. An agency, officer, or other person who is dissatisfied with the decision of the review board may apply to the governor, who may take action as the governor deems best in overruling or sustaining the department.

(b) The department of Hawaiian home lands, prior to any proposed project relating to lands under its jurisdiction, shall consult with the department regarding the effect of the project upon historic property or a burial site.

(c) The State, its political subdivisions, agencies, and officers shall report to the department the finding of any historic property during any project and shall cooperate with the department in the investigation, recording, preservation, and salvage of the property.

(d) State projects on a state-owned building shall not be subject to the department's review unless the affected property is:

(1) More than one hundred years old;

(2) Listed on the Hawaii register of historic places or the national register of historic places; or

(3) Pending application to be added to the Hawaii register of historic places or the national register of historic places.

[(d)] (e) The department shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to implement this section."

SECTION 2. Section 6E-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "historic property" to read as follows:

""Historic property" means any building, structure, object, district, area, or site, including a heiau and an underwater site, [which] that is over [fifty]:

(1) Fifty years old[.] and meets the criteria to be placed onto the Hawaii register of historic places or has important value to Native Hawaiians or other ethnic groups of the State due to associations with cultural practices once carried out, or still being carried out, at the property or due to associations with traditional beliefs, events, or oral accounts that are important to the group's history, traditional practices, and cultural identity; or

(2) One hundred years old."

SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

State Historic Preservation Program; Historic Property

Description:

Expands the definition of "historic property" for purposes of the historic preservation program. Exempts 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.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.