STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1029

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1573

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1573, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure the availability of water for the future development of affordable housing.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes a working group within the Office of the Governor to:

(A) Inventory all available water resources statewide; and

(B) Streamline the well permit approval process to ensure an available water supply; and

(2) Requires the working group to submit an interim report to the Legislature no later than September 15, 2023, and a final report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Office of Housing and Community Development of the County of Hawaii, Department of Water Supply of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii REALTORS, and Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources

Your Committee finds that the State currently faces an acute shortage of affordable housing. Your Committee further finds that this ongoing crisis merits a thorough examination of every impediment to the development of affordable housing, including access to potable water.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1573, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1573, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair