HB1844 • 2026

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Agriculture

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: HASHEM, IWAMOTO
Last action: 2026-03-19
Official status: The committee on EIG deferred the measure.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date of July 1, 3000, is mentioned in the official summary but appears to be an error or placeholder that may need correction.

Land Use Commission Changes

This bill requires the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands designated for urban growth in county plans as being part of the urban district, upon request from a county, except for Important Agricultural Lands.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Land Use Commission to change land classifications based on requests from counties if the lands are designated for urban growth under a county general or development plan.
Specifies that this does not apply to Important Agricultural Lands.
Requires the commission to update maps and notify the county within 90 days of receiving a request.

Who It Names or Affects

The Land Use Commission
Counties in Hawaii

Terms To Know

Urban Growth: Areas planned for development with more buildings and people, like cities or towns.
Land Use Districts: Different areas of land that have specific rules about how they can be used, such as farming or building houses.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if the Land Use Commission cannot complete the reclassification within 90 days.
It is unclear how this change will affect Important Agricultural Lands that are excluded from the requirement.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment requires the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands designated for urban growth in a county's general plan as being in the urban state land use district, upon request from the county.

The Land Use Commission must reclassify certain lands into the urban district if requested by a county and meets specific conditions.
Counties can submit requests to amend urban district boundaries with detailed property descriptions and maps.
After receiving a valid request, the commission updates boundary lines on official maps and notifies the county.

The amendment specifies that it does not apply to actions taken under part III of chapter 205, which is unclear without further context.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment requires the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands designated for urban growth in county plans as being part of the state's urban district, upon request by a county.

The Land Use Commission must now consider requests from counties to reclassify land designated for urban growth under county general or development plans into the state’s urban district.
Counties can submit detailed maps and studies supporting their requests, which the commission will review before making a decision.
Once approved, the changes to the urban district boundaries take effect immediately after the Land Use Commission updates its official maps.

The amendment does not apply to lands designated as important agricultural lands or actions taken under part III of the relevant chapter.

Bill History

2026-03-19 S
The committee on EIG deferred the measure.
2026-03-19 S
The committee on WLA deferred the measure.
2026-03-16 S
The committee(s) on WLA/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-19-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to WLA/EIG, JDC.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 297).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Cochran, Grandinetti, Hussey, Perruso, Poepoe voting no (6) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1192-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-24 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Belatti, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: none; 3 Noes: Representative(s) Poepoe, Cochran, Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Garcia.
2026-02-20 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 02-24-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-18 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Amato, Poepoe voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-18 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 456-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-02-10 H
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Poepoe; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 02-10-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 2
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.
LUC; Counties; County Plans; State Land Use Urban District Boundaries; Reclassification
Except for Important Agricultural Lands, requires the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands that are designated for urban growth under a county general plan or county development plan as being in the urban district at the request of the county, subject to certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1844

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1844

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the land use commission
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that the State and
counties have separate systems of land use regulations.
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This dual framework creates delays and adds
to the cost of affordable housing development.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to expedite the development of affordable housing by
requiring the land use commission, at the request of a county, to reclassify
lands designated for urban growth under a county general or development plan as
being in the urban state land use district.

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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

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�205-
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Amendments to urban
district boundaries based on county general plan or county development plan.
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(a)
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Notwithstanding sections 205-3.1 and 205-4, upon request of a county,
the commission shall reclassify lands not in the urban district, but that are
designated for urban growth under a county general plan or county development
plan pursuant to section 226-58, as being in the urban district; provided that
the requisite analyses are completed before a request is submitted to the
commission.

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(b)
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To implement the reclassification of lands
described in this section, the county shall submit to the commission a request
to amend the urban district boundary that includes a description and a metes
and bounds map of the affected property.
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Within ninety days of receipt of the request, the commission shall:

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(1)
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Update the boundary lines between
land use districts on the United States Geological Survey quadrangle maps filed
at the commission pursuant to the notice from the county; and

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(2)
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Notify the county that the
quadrangle maps filed at the commission have been updated in response to the request.

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(c)
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An amendment made to state land use district
boundaries pursuant to this section shall become effective on the day that the
commission notifies the county that the quadrangle maps filed at the commission
have been updated.

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(d)
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The commission shall adopt rules in
accordance with chapter 91 to implement this section.
"

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SECTION 3.
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New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

LUC;
Counties; County General Plan; State Land Use Urban District Boundaries;
Reclassification

Description:

Requires
the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands that are designated for urban
growth under a county general plan or county development plan as being in the
urban district at the request of the county.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.