STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2386

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 2635

        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 Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2635, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for the development or purchase of land or units, for mortgage or rental subsidies, and other services necessary to address the waiting list.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Koʻolau Foundation, and four individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' ability to develop new homestead communities depends on its funding and is on track to expend the full amount of the $600,000,000 provided in Act 279, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands requires additional funds to continue to manage its homestead program.  This measure will allow the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to continue to serve its beneficiaries and fulfill its trust obligations.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of September 9, 2129, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2635, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2635, S.D. 2, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

________________________________

HERBERT M. RICHARDS, III, Chair