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HB445 • 2026

RELATING TO LAND.

RELATING TO LAND.

Budget Taxes
Active

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

Sponsor
TAM
Last action
2025-12-08
Official status
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on how much funding is allocated or which specific projects the acquired lands will support.

Land Acquisition for Economic Development

This bill allows the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to use eminent domain to acquire specific parcels of land using state funds.

What This Bill Does

  • Gives the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism permission to take over certain pieces of land using eminent domain.
  • Provides funds from the state's general revenue for the acquisition of these lands.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism
  • Owners of listed tax map key parcels

Terms To Know

eminent domain
A government's power to take private property for public use.
tax map key parcels
Specific pieces of land identified by a unique number in the state’s tax records.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money will be used to buy the land.
  • It is unclear which specific community needs and economic development projects these lands will support.
  • The bill has been carried over to the next session, so it may change or be reconsidered.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-01-21 H

    Referred to WAL, ECD, FIN, referral sheet 2

  3. 2025-01-21 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  4. 2025-01-17 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO LAND.
DBEDT; Eminent Domain; Parcel Purchase; Community Needs; Economic Development; Appropriation ($)
Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to exercise its power of eminent domain to acquire certain parcels. Appropriates funds for the acquisition of those parcels.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB445

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

445

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to land.

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 city
and county of Honolulu has experienced a steady increase in the number of
residents and visitors over the past decade, with a population growth rate of
6.6 per cent from 2010 to 2020, the highest of all counties.
�
The city and county of Honolulu is now home
to more than one million individuals, and its existing infrastructure is
insufficient to support the increase in residents and visitors.
�
Specifically, a lack outdoor spaces for
community activities are persistent problems for residents and visitors.
�
The legislature further finds that there are
lands within the city and county of Honolulu that can be better utilized for
economic development and to address community needs.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the department of business,
economic development, and tourism to purchase certain properties to be used for
economic development and community needs.

����
SECTION
2.
�
The department of business, economic
development, and tourism shall exercise its power of eminent domain under chapter
101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to acquire tax map key parcels listed in section
3 of this Act.

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SECTION 3.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 for the
department of business, economic development, and tourism to
exercise
its power of eminent domain under chapter 101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to
acquire the following tax map key
parcels to be used for economic development and community needs, as deemed
necessary by the department:

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(1)
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1-2-6-024-034-0000;

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(2)
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1-2-6-024-035-0000;

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(3)
�
1-2-6-024-036-0000;

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(4)
�
1-2-6-024-037-0000
;

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(5)
�
1-2-6-024-038-0000;

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(6)
�
1-2-6-024-039-0000;

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(7)
�
1-2-6-024-040-0000;

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(8)
�
1-2-6-024-042-0000;

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(9)
�
1-2-6-024-043-0000;

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(10)
�
1-2-6-024-044-0000;

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(11)
�
1-2-6-024-045-0000;

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(12)
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1-2-6-024-065-0000;

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(13)
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1-2-6-024-066-0000;

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(14)
�
1-2-6-024-067-0000;

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(15)
�
1-2-6-024-068-0000;

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(16)
�
1-2-6-024-080-0000;

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(17)
�
1-2-6-024-081-0000;

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(18)
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1-2-6-024-082-0000; and

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(19)
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1-2-6-024-083-0000.

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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic
development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DBEDT; Eminent
Domain; Parcel Purchase; Community Needs; Economic Development; Appropriation

Description:

Requires
the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to exercise its
power of eminent domain to acquire certain parcels.
�
Appropriates funds for the acquisition of
those parcels.

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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.