STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2029-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2401

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2401, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REGIONAL SHORELINE MITIGATION DISTRICTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to:

(A) Plan and serve in a coordinating role to develop shoreline adaptation pathways plans for regional shoreline mitigation districts designated by the Office;

(B) Coordinate shoreline adaptation pathways planning with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, applicable county and federal agencies, and the community; and

(C) Upon finalization of a shoreline adaptation pathways plan, transmit the plan to the Board of Land and Natural Resources for approval;

(2) Authorize the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt a shoreline adaptation pathways plan after determining that the plan satisfies certain requirements;

(3) Establish procedures for the review of state and county permits associated with regional shoreline mitigation districts;

(4) Establish the support and integration of shoreline adaptation pathways planning as a policy under the Coastal Zone Management Program; and

(5) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; Hololani AOAO; Surfrider Foundation, Hawaiʻi Region; Kahana Bay Steering Committee; Shoreline Preservation Coalition; ADF Properties; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development's role in developing and assisting stakeholders in shoreline adaptation pathway planning for designated regional shoreline mitigation districts;

(2) Removing the authorization of the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt a shoreline adaptation pathways plan after determining that the plan satisfies certain requirements;

(3) Removing the provisions that established the support and integration of shoreline adaptation pathways planning as a policy under the Coastal Zone Management Program;

(4) Removing the appropriations; and

(5) 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2401, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2401, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair