STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1582

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1521

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 1521, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop an integrated land use study that incorporates various studies to serve as a guide for planning and decision making on the use of agricultural lands.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Land Use Commission, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, Hawaii Gas, Hawaiian Electric, Ulupono Initiative, and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Ka Ohana O Na Pua.

Your Committees find that a comprehensive land use analysis is needed to review and incorporate the State's twenty-first century climate and sustainability targets and housing targets into future land use proposals.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committees respectfully request your Committee on Finance, should it choose to deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of:

(1) $700,000 for the establishment of six full-time equivalent (6.0 FTE) positions in the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop definitive data and submit a report and related expenses;

(2) $750,000 for the update of various state functional plans of the Hawaii State Energy Office, Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, and Hawaii Tourism Authority, to be allocated equally among the five agencies; and

(3) $1,215,000 for the establishment of seven full-time equivalent (7.0 FTE) positions in the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and related expenses.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Agriculture & Food Systems that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1521, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1521, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________ CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair