HR 152: ESTABLISHing THE TASK FORCE FOR SPEED (SIMPLIFYING PERMITTING FOR ENHANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT) TO IDENTIFY ACTIONS needed TO EXPEDITE, FACILITATE, AND COORDINATE STATE AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL PERMIT PROCESSES.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

ESTABLISHing THE TASK FORCE FOR SPEED (SIMPLIFYING PERMITTING FOR ENHANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT) TO IDENTIFY ACTIONS needed TO EXPEDITE, FACILITATE, AND COORDINATE STATE AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL PERMIT PROCESSES.

     WHEREAS, the permitting process can be subject to lengthy waiting periods, leading to delays in housing, industrial, and commercial projects and stifling economic development in the State; and

     WHEREAS, bringing together representatives from the various agencies responsible for permitting can greatly enhance understanding of issues present in the permitting process and help determine changes needed to expedite the process; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that there is established the Task Force for SPEED (Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development) to identify actions needed to expedite, facilitate, and coordinate state and intergovernmental permit processes; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to consist of the following individuals:

     (1)  One member of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall serve as the Chair of the task force;

     (2)  One member of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

     (3)  A representative from the Office of the Governor;

     (4)  A representative from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

     (5)  A representative from the Public Utilities Commission;

     (6)  A representative from the Commission on Water Resource Management of the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

     (7)  A representative from the Hawaii Community Development Authority;

     (8)  A representative from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation;

     (9)  A representative from the Land Use Commission;

    (10)  A representative from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development;

    (11)  A representative from the Small Business Regulatory Review Board;

    (12)  A representative from the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

    (13)  A representative from the Wastewater Branch of the Department of Health; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chair of the task force is requested to invite the following individuals to serve as members of the task force:

     (1)  A representative from each of the offices of Hawaii's congressional delegation;

     (2)  A representative from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu;

     (3)  A representative from the Planning Department of the County of Maui;

     (4)  A representative from the Planning Department of the County of Hawaii; and

     (5)  A representative from the Planning Department of the County of Kauai; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that representatives for the task force are requested to be designated no later than August 1, 2025; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to hold its first meeting no later than October 1, 2025; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2027; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation; Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission; Chair of the Hawaii Community Development Authority; Executive Director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Chair of the Land Use Commission; Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Chair of the Small Business Regulatory Review Board; Administrator of the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Director of the Wastewater Branch of the Department of Health; Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; Director of the Planning Department of the County of Maui; Planning Director of the Planning Department of the County of Hawaii; and Planning Director of the Planning Department of the County of Kauai.

Report Title: 

Task Force for Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development; Permitting

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1651

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.R. No. 152

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.R. No. 152 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE TASK FORCE FOR SPEED (SIMPLIFYING PERMITTING FOR ENHANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT) TO IDENTIFY ACTIONS NEEDED TO EXPEDITE, FACILITATE, AND COORDINATE STATE AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL PERMIT PROCESSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish the Task Force for SPEED (Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development) to identify actions needed to expedite, facilitate, and coordinate state and intergovernmental permit processes.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Land Use Commission; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Public Utilities Commission; and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that the permitting process can be subject to lengthy waiting periods, leading to delays in housing, industrial, and commercial projects and slowing economic development.  This measure helps bring together representatives from various agencies responsible for permitting to address challenges and actions needed to improve the permitting process.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 152 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,