STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2936

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2811

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. 2811, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE BUILDING PROJECTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to help improve the efficiency of permitting processes for state building projects on state lands.

More specifically, the measure establishes and appropriates moneys for a State Building Permit Process Task Force within the Department of Accounting and General Services to evaluate the challenges, opportunities, and legislative actions necessary to establish a State Building Permit Review Office.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and Hawaii Community Development Authority.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board.

Your Committee finds that the existing processes for building permit review represent significant regulatory hurdles for real estate developers. Your Committee further finds that, when the State undertakes projects that benefit residents, including building affordable housing, permitting delays often increase costs and delay the delivery of much-needed public facilities and housing. Accordingly, your Committee believes that this measure is necessary to determine the feasibility of establishing a State Building Permit Review Office to expedite the review of state projects built on state lands.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adding a requirement, suggested by the Disability and Communication Access Board, that any processes or recommendations developed by the task force comply with and reflect the disability access requirements under section 103-50, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

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. 2811, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2811, 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