CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 88-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1823

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1823, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the definition of "development", as it pertains to special management areas, to exclude any state- or county-funded infrastructure improvement project that is exempted from an environmental assessment or determined as a Finding of No Significant Impact under chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(2) Apply the definition of "development" to only those zones established in Lahaina after the 2023 Maui wildfires that were designated for reentry by the State or County of Maui as of January 1, 2026, excluding lands owned by or under the control of the State or County of Maui.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Applying the definition of "development" to special management areas within counties with a population between one hundred fifty thousand and two hundred thousand;

(2) Specifying that all activities not included within the definition of "development" should be exempt from special management area use permit requirements;

(3) Amending the types of projects that are exempt from special management area use permit requirements;

(4) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1823, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1823, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ CHRIS LEE Chair	____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair
____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair	____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair