STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2868

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2613

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2613, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL LAND TRANSFER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make necessary corrections and clarifications to certain conveyances of land to the Department of Education and to consolidate title to certain public and school libraries by conveying the properties to the Hawaii State Public Library System.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Revises tax map key numbers and the conveyance process by which identified properties are conveyed to the Department of Education pursuant to Act 307, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022 (Act 307);

(2) Clarifies that land dispositions of school buildings, facilities, and grounds made by the Department of Education do not require approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources; and

(3) Requires the Department of Education to convey certain public and school libraries to the Hawaii State Public Library System.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Public Library System.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that this measure makes necessary technical corrections and revisions to tax map key numbers to reflect parcel consolidations or subdivisions, and changes in circumstances that have occurred since Act 307 was enacted in 2022. Your Committee also finds that, although the Hawaii State Public Library System has sole responsibility for the management and operation of all public library buildings statewide, the Department of Education retains partial ownership authority over many public and school libraries. Consolidating title to all public libraries in the Hawaii State Public Library System will help alleviate jurisdictional complications and delays in land management projects.

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. 2613, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair