STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3142

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2113

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2113, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Transportation for the removal of overgrown vegetation from the Kainahola Stream.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation and Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Your Committee finds that overgrown vegetation along the Kainahola Stream drainageway has caused the stream to overflow and, at times, flood adjoining properties. In one case, the owner of an adjoining property filed suit against the State which resulted in the State being ordered to remove overgrown vegetation from the Kainahola Stream drainageway. While the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity have completed seventy-five percent of the necessary cleanup, further funds are necessary to completely remove the overgrown vegetation. This measure will ensure the safety and functionality of the Kainahola Stream drainage infrastructure.

Your Committee notes the concern raised by the Department of Transportation that the majority of overgrown vegetation identified in this measure is located on property outside of the Department's jurisdiction. As the majority of the overgrown vegetation is located on property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Department of Transportation believes that the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity should be the responsible agency. Thus, amendments to this measure are necessary to address this concern.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the expending agency from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity;

(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

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

Your Committee notes that this measure, as amended, contains an unspecified appropriation amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider an appropriation amount of $1,000,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2113, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2113, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair