STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3334

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2505

H.D. 1

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 H.B. No. 2505, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND USE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the fines for violations of land use laws; and

(2) Impose enhanced fines for developers and owners of Important Agricultural Lands who repeatedly use the lands for unintended purposes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that the State is constitutionally required to conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency, and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands. Your Committee further finds that there are individuals who exploit the Important Agricultural Land designation for personal or financial gain, undermining the State's efforts to support a diversity of agricultural activities and opportunities that expand agricultural income and job opportunities and increase agricultural self-sufficiency for current and future generations. This measure ensures that Important Agricultural Lands are used as intended by imposing harsher penalties on those who misuse these lands.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that developers and owners of Important Agricultural Lands who have been granted a Special Use Permit by the Land Use Commission or appropriate County Planning Commission shall not be subject to the penalties imposed by this measure.

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 H.B. No. 2505, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2505, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair