STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1478

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1573

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 Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1573, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish within the Office of the Governor a working group to ascertain and address state watershed management to enable the development and construction of affordable housing projects across the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Chief Housing Officer of the Office of the Governor, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, County of Hawai‘i Planning Department, Hawai‘i County Office of Housing and Community Development, and Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees find that water resources and infrastructure are one of the major challenges in the development of affordable housing in the State. Your Committees further find that the working group proposed in this measure will be key to supporting affordable-housing initiatives while providing proper management of water resources.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Adding:

(A) Increasing water efficiency, reuse, and recycling for affordable housing projects and developments; and

(B) Quantitatively balancing water use with water recharge and replenishment within the impacted watershed,

as matters for the working group to address and make recommendations on;

(2) Allowing the chairperson of the working group to invite additional individuals and organizations to participate on the working group, as needed;

(3) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1573, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1573, 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 Housing,

____________________________ TROY N. HASHIMOTO, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair