STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3316

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1545

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1545, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADAPTATION PATHWAYS PLANNING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to enable and encourage state and county agencies to engage in and implement long-term adaptation pathways planning, together with affected communities, to facilitate natural-resource conservation and reduce the loss of public and private infrastructure to damage associated with sea level rise and flooding by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in coordination with the appropriate state and county agencies, to prepare plans to facilitate implementation of adaptation measures, including modification and ultimate relocation of development and infrastructure away from certain at-risk areas; and

(2) Appropriating funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; one member of the Maui County Council; University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Program; Climate Resilience Collaborative; Surfrider Foundation Hawaiʻi Region; and three individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from Starn, O'Toole, Marcus, and Fisher and one individual.

Your Committees find that infrastructure and economic sectors across the State are threatened by rising sea levels. Your Committees further find that steps must be taken to mitigate sea level rise and its effects on vulnerable communities and crucial public trust resources, including sandy beaches and dune systems, which are valuable for their cultural importance and role in the ecosystem. This measure will encourage state and county agencies, in coordination with affected communities, to develop and implement long-term adaptation planning to conserve natural resources for future generations and curtail the losses of public and private infrastructure from damage associated with sea level rise and flooding.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1545, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1545, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair