STAND. COM. REP. NO. 29-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1650

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1650 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to remove proposed actions within historic sites and the Waikiki Special District from the requirement for environmental assessments under section 343-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; Hawaiʻi YIMBY; United Chinese Society of Hawaii; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from The Outdoor Circle; Truth for the People Moku O Keawe; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committee finds that the City and County of Honolulu has adopted ordinances and other requirements for permitting of certain projects within the Waikiki Special District. Your Committee further finds that it is redundant and unnecessary to require all proposals for any use within the Waikiki Special District to undergo an environmental assessment in addition to the City's requirements. Accordingly, this measure removes the requirement for environmental assessments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Reinstating the environmental assessment requirement for actions that propose any use within a historic site;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1650, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1650, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair