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SB1654 • 2026

RELATING TO LAND TRANSFERS.

RELATING TO LAND TRANSFERS.

Active

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

Sponsor
RICHARDS, CHANG, INOUYE, KIDANI
Last action
2026-02-13
Official status
The committee on WLA deferred the measure.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO LAND TRANSFERS.

RELATING TO LAND TRANSFERS.

What This Bill Does

  • RELATING TO LAND TRANSFERS.
  • DHHL; State Agencies; Land Transfers Authorizes the transfer of certain lands under the jurisdiction of certain state agencies to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-13 S

    The committee on WLA deferred the measure.

  2. 2026-02-12 S

    The committee on HWN deferred the measure.

  3. 2026-02-10 S

    The committee(s) on HWN deferred the measure until 02-12-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

  4. 2026-02-10 S

    The committee(s) on WLA deferred the measure until 02-13-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.

  5. 2026-02-06 S

    The committee(s) on HWN/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

  6. 2026-01-21 S

    Re-Referred to HWN/WLA, JDC.

  7. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  8. 2025-01-27 S

    Referred to HWN/WTL, JDC.

  9. 2025-01-27 S

    Passed First Reading.

  10. 2025-01-23 S

    Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO LAND TRANSFERS.
DHHL; State Agencies; Land Transfers
Authorizes the transfer of certain lands under the jurisdiction of certain state agencies to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB1654

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1654

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Land Transfers
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that the mission of the department of Hawaiian home lands is
to develop and deliver land to native Hawaiians.
�
The land trust, created by Congress through
the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended (HHCA), set aside lands
to be used for the benefit of native Hawaiians.

����
As required by the Hawaii Admission Act of
1959 and as a compact with the United States, the State of Hawaii and the
people of Hawaii adopted the HHCA as a provision of the Hawaii State
Constitution and agreed to faithfully carry out the spirit of the HHCA for the
rehabilitation of the Hawaiian race.
�
These trust responsibilities remain to this
day.
�
The legislature also finds that
today, the department of Hawaiian home lands is responsible for the management
of 203,981 acres of trust lands, 10,045 homestead leases statewide, and 47,086
lease applications.
�
However, over 29,451
applicants remain on the waitlist for residential, agricultural, or pastoral
leases.

����
The legislature further finds that of the
department's land holdings, approximately five per cent are designated for
residential use, while over sixty-three per cent are designated for general
agriculture, special district, or conservation.
�
Given the limited land holdings, the legislature
finds that the department must identify more lands appropriate for homestead
development.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
authorize the transfer of certain lands under the jurisdiction of certain state
agencies to the department of Hawaiian home lands.

����
SECTION 2.
�

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the fee simple interest
of certain lands under the jurisdiction of certain state agencies with the
existing improvements thereon shall be conveyed to the department of Hawaiian
home lands as grantee.

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DHHL;
State Agencies; Land Transfers

Description:

Authorizes
the transfer of certain lands under the jurisdiction of certain state agencies
to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

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