STAND. COM. REP. NO. 762-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2582

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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2582 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the membership and responsibilities of the Public Land Trust Working Group established under Act 226, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022;

(2) Require the Working Group to submit four reports to the Legislature: by August 1, 2027, a first interim report regarding Act 178, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006 (Act 178), financial reporting and accounting; by December 1, 2027, a second interim report regarding the public land trust inventory; by June 1, 2028, a third interim report that includes a preliminary draft of findings and recommendations regarding Act 178 financial reporting and accounting and the public land trust inventory; and by October 1, 2028, a final report that includes proposed legislation; and

(3) Authorize the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to provide administrative support to the Working Group in coordination with a third-party consultant.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Koʻolau Foundation; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Act 226, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, established the Public Land Trust Working Group to account for the public land trust inventory and public land trust revenues. Your Committee further finds that this measure supports the Working Group's continued focus on improving the completeness and transparency of the public land trust inventory and related financial reporting.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Modifying the composition of the Public Land Trust Working Group;

(2) Requiring all members of the Public Land Trust Working Group to meet certain qualifications;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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 Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2582, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2582, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair