STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2933

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2003

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2003, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide for potential changes in the governance of Mauna Kea.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Provides for the repeal of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority and reversion of management over Mauna Kea lands to the University of Hawaii upon a recommendation from the Auditor that the transfer of authority, responsibility, and duties under Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, is not substantially complete; and

(2) Automatically extends for ten years the general lease of Mauna Kea lands and the corresponding subleases of Mauna Kea lands to astronomical observatories.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from twelve individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, University of Hawaii, and Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.

Your Committee finds that, while the Auditor is empowered to assess whether agencies are fulfilling their statutory duties effectively, the Legislature, as the State's policy-making body, has the role of determining whether an agency should be reformed, dissolved, or have its responsibilities reassigned.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language providing for the repeal of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority if the Auditor determines that the transfer of authority, responsibility, and duties under Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, is not substantially complete;

(2) Providing instead for the automatic repeal of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority on December 31, 2031, if the timelines for the transfer of authority, responsibility, and duties required under Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, are not met; and

(3) Requiring that the transfer of appropriations, records, equipment, and other property from the University of Hawaii to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority under section 9 of Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, be completed by July 1, 2030.

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. 2003, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2003, 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