RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Elections

Active

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

Sponsor: HASHEM, KAHALOA, TAKAYAMA, TARNAS
Last action: 2026-03-12
Official status: Referred to WLA, JDC.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on when it will become law, leaving this information uncertain.

Land Use Commission Voting Rules

This bill changes the voting rules for the Land Use Commission to require a simple majority vote for boundary amendments, instead of six out of nine votes.

What This Bill Does

Changes the requirement for approving boundary amendments from needing six out of nine votes to just half plus one of the members present and qualified to vote.
Clarifies that at least half of all appointed members must be present to make decisions (this is called a quorum).
Requires two-thirds of the total members' votes for actions related to Important Agricultural Lands.

Who It Names or Affects

The Land Use Commission and its members.
People who need approvals from the Land Use Commission for boundary changes in Hawaii.

Terms To Know

Boundary Amendment: A change to the boundaries of land use areas, which requires approval by the Land Use Commission.
Quorum: The minimum number of members who must be present for a group to make decisions legally.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill does not specify how it will affect existing projects or rights that were established before the new rules are put in place.
It is unclear when this bill will become law and start affecting decisions made by the Land Use Commission.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment changes the voting requirement for boundary amendments by the Land Use Commission from a six-member affirmative vote to a simple majority of members present.

Changes the voting rule for boundary amendments so that a simple majority of votes from qualified and present commission members is needed, instead of requiring six out of nine members to agree.

The amendment text does not specify how many members need to be present for a quorum but clarifies it requires a majority of all the seats on the commission.
It also specifies that two-thirds vote is needed for actions related to Important Agricultural Lands, which is an additional requirement not directly tied to boundary amendments.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment changes the voting requirement for boundary amendments by the Land Use Commission from a six-member affirmative vote to a simple majority of members present.

Changes the voting requirement for boundary amendments from needing six out of nine votes to a simple majority of the members present and qualified to vote.

The amendment text does not specify how many members need to be present to constitute a quorum, only that a majority of all entitled members is needed for regular business.
It's unclear what will happen if there are vacancies on the commission and fewer than five members are available.

Bill History

2026-03-12 S
Referred to WLA, JDC.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 298).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Cochran, Grandinetti, Hussey, Perruso, Poepoe, Shimizu voting no (7) 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. 1190-26) 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.
2026-02-17 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3).
2026-02-17 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 338-26) 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, Ichiyama, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Shimizu; 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; Decision-Making Process; Boundary Amendment
Specifies that a simple majority of affirmative votes of the members of the Land Use Commission present at a meeting and qualified to vote is required for any boundary amendment. Clarifies that a majority of all members to which the Land Use Commission is entitled shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. Clarifies that a two-thirds vote shall be necessary for actions taken by the Land Use Commission regarding Important Agricultural Lands. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1845

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1845

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:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that the time and cost required to construct new housing can
be substantially increased by delays in obtaining required permits and
approvals.

����
The legislature also finds that, according
to a study conducted by the university of Hawaii economic research organization,
the average length of approval delay in Hawaii is three times the national average.
�
Similarly, research by the Grassroot
Institute of Hawaii has found that it can take up to ten years to obtain
necessary approvals to develop new housing in the State.
�
These delays increase uncertainty and
expenses, which disincentivize development and can considerably increase the
cost to build new homes.

����
The legislature further finds that the average
price of housing in the State has increased substantially in recent years.
�
In September 2012, the median home price on
Oahu was $637,000.
�
Ten years later, in
September 2022, the median home price had skyrocketed to $1,100,000.

����
The legislature notes that under existing state
law, six out of the nine members of the land use commission must affirmatively
vote to approve any boundary amendment, regardless of any vacancies or absences
among commission members.
�
Adjusting this
law may help to expedite the approval process, which will help to accelerate housing
development and address the State's excessive permit and approval times.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
specify that a simple majority of affirmative votes of the members of the land
use commission present at a meeting and qualified to vote is required for any
boundary amendment.

����
SECTION 2.
�

Section 205-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending
subsection (a) to read as follows:

����
"(a)
�

There shall be a state land use commission, hereinafter called the
commission.
�
The commission shall consist
of nine members who shall hold no other public office and shall be appointed in
the manner and serve for the term set forth in section 26-34.
�
One member shall be appointed from each of
the counties and the remainder shall be appointed at large; provided that one
member shall have substantial experience or expertise in traditional Hawaiian
land usage and knowledge of cultural land practices.
�
The commission shall elect its chairperson
from one of its members.
�
The members
shall receive no compensation for their services on the commission, but shall
be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties.
�
[
Six
]
A simple
majority of
affirmative votes
of the members present and qualified to
vote
shall be necessary for any boundary amendment."

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that
were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

����
SECTION 4.
�

Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

LUC; Decision-Making
Process; Boundary Amendment

Description:

Specifies
that a simple majority of affirmative votes of the members of the Land Use
Commission present at a meeting and qualified to vote is required for any
boundary amendment.

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