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SB28
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
28
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
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 delays in obtaining permits and approvals substantially
increase the time and cost required to build new housing.
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A study by the University of Hawaii Economic
Research Organization on the burden of housing regulation indicates that the
average length of approval delay in Hawaii is three times the national mean,
leading to uncertainty and expense that disincentivizes development.
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According to research by the Grassroot
Institute of Hawaii, the time required to navigate the approval process for new
housing developments can take as long as ten years.
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This can considerably increase the cost
associated with building new homes.
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In
September 2012, the median home price on Oahu was $637,000.
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Ten years later, in September 2022, the
median home price skyrocketed to $1,100,000.
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Under existing law, six out of the nine
members of the land use commission must affirmatively vote to approve any
boundary amendment.
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The legislature further finds that
adjusting the laws governing the land use commission approval process will
expedite the development process and help address the State's excessive permit
and approval times.
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Therefore, 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.
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SECTION
2
.
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Section 205-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
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(a)
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There shall be a state land use commission, hereinafter called the
commission.
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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.
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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.
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The commission shall elect its chairperson
from one of its members.
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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.
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[
Six
]
A simple
majority of
affirmative votes
of the members present and qualified to
vote
shall be necessary for any boundary amendment."
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SECTION 3.
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This Act does
not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and
proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
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SECTION 4.
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Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory material is underscored.
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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Land Use
Commission; 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.