SB 2083: DLNR; State Historic Preservation Division; State-Owned Historic Properties Preservation Plan Working Group; Historic Preservation; Reports

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO STATE-OWNED HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND INHERITED LANDS.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that historic properties owned by the state are not always maintained or rehabilitated to the best standards that reflect the historic nature or intent of the historic properties.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a state-owned historic properties preservation plan working group to:

     (1)  Identify all state-owned historic properties and inherited lands;

     (2)  Develop a state-owned historic properties preservation plan, to include certain recommendations and considerations;

     (3)  Identify a permanent funding source to ensure sustainable preservation efforts; and

     (4)  Develop frameworks for public-private partnerships that involve lineal descendants, cultural practitioners, and nonprofit organizations.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department of land and natural resources a state-owned historic properties preservation plan working group.

     (b)  The working group shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The administrator of the state historic preservation division, who shall serve as chair;

     (2)  The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources or the chairperson's designee;

     (3)  The chief executive officer of the office of Hawaiian affairs or the chief executive officer's designee;

     (4)  The director of the planning department of each county or their designees;

     (5)  The chair of the cultural resources commission for each county or their designees;

     (6)  A cultural practitioner from each county to be nominated by the office of Hawaiian affairs;

     (7)  The chairperson of the Hawaii historic places review board;

     (8)  A member from the department of accounting and general services;

     (9)  The chairs of the house of representatives standing committee and the senate standing committee with primary jurisdiction over historic preservation; and

    (10)  Any other individuals that the chair may choose to invite.

     (c)  The working group shall:

     (1)  Conduct a comprehensive inventory of state-owned historic properties;

     (2)  Evaluate the condition and significance of each state‑owned historic property;

     (3)  Create actionable preservation and rehabilitation plans, prioritizing properties at risk and including the recommendations and considerations described in subsection (f);

     (4)  Develop criteria for the allocation of funds;

     (5)  Explore and propose permanent funding mechanisms, including new taxes, appropriations by the legislature, grants and donations from public-private partnerships, and revenue from adaptive reuse projects;

     (6)  Establish partnerships with lineal descendants, cultural practitioners, and nonprofit organizations; and

     (7)  Promote community engagement and stewardship programs.

     (d)  The members of the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (e)  No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the member's participation in the task force.

     (f)  The working group shall convene monthly and shall submit an interim report to the legislature every six months; provided that the working group shall also submit a conclusive report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature before the dissolution of the working group, detailing completed inventories and assessments and proposed preservation and funding plans, to include but not be limited to:

     (1)  Recommendations for how the State should:

          (A)  Properly maintain and preserve historic properties; and

          (B)  Improve the design, narrative, and historic significance of current and future state-owned historic properties to better reflect the higher standards inherent in preserving historic properties; and

     (2)  Considerations of:

          (A)  How to exemplify to the people the greater narrative, public purpose, and importance of public infrastructure;

          (B)  The best practices from other states for historic properties, facilities, and surrounding landscaping; and

          (C)  Establishing a position of state architect to help inform project decisions.

     (g)  The working group shall dissolve eighteen months after its establishment.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

DLNR; State Historic Preservation Division; State-Owned Historic Properties Preservation Plan Working Group; Historic Preservation; Reports

Description:

Establishes the State-Owned Historic Properties Preservation Plan Working Group within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to ensure the preservation of state-owned historic properties and inherited lands.  Requires reports to the Legislature.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to state-owned historic properties and inherited lands.

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

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to establish a state-owned historic properties preservation plan working group to:

     (1)  Identify all state-owned historic properties and inherited lands;

     (2)  Develop a state-owned historic properties preservation plan;

     (3)  Identify a permanent funding source to ensure sustainable preservation efforts; and

     (4)  Develop frameworks for public-private partnerships that involve lineal descendants, cultural practitioners, and nonprofit organizations.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department of land and natural resources a state-owned historic properties preservation plan working group.

     (b)  The working group shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The administrator of the state historic preservation division, who shall serve as chair;

     (2)  The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources or the chairperson's designee;

     (3)  The chief executive officer of the office of Hawaiian affairs or the chief executive officer's designee;

     (4)  The director of the planning department of each county or their designees;

     (5)  A cultural practitioner from each county to be nominated by the office of Hawaiian affairs; and

     (6)  Any other individuals that the chair may choose to invite.

     (c)  The working group shall:

     (1)  Conduct a comprehensive inventory of state-owned historic properties;

     (2)  Evaluate the condition and significance of each state-owned historic property;

     (3)  Create actionable preservation and rehabilitation plans, prioritizing properties at risk;

     (4)  Develop criteria for the allocation of funds;

     (5)  Explore and propose permanent funding mechanisms, including new taxes, appropriations by the legislature, grants and donations from public-private partnerships, and revenue from adaptive reuse projects;

     (6)  Establish partnerships with lineal descendants, cultural practitioners, and nonprofit organizations; and

     (7)  Promote community engagement and stewardship programs.

     (d)  The members of the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (e)  No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the member's participation in the task force.

     (f)  The working group shall convene monthly and shall submit an interim report to the legislature every six months; provided that the working group shall also submit a conclusive report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature before the dissolution of the working group, detailing completed inventories and assessments and proposed preservation and funding plans.

     (g)  The working group shall dissolve eighteen months after its establishment.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

DLNR; State Historic Preservation Division; State-Owned Historic Properties Preservation Plan Working Group; Historic Preservation; Reports

Description:

Establishes the State-Owned Historic Properties Preservation Plan Working Group within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to ensure the preservation of state-owned historic properties and inherited lands.  Requires reports to the Legislature.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2507

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:     S.B. No. 2083

        S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 2083 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE-OWNED HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND INHERITED LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a State-Owned Historic Properties Preservation Plan Working Group to ensure the preservation of state-owned historic properties and inherited lands. 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that the historic and cultural heritage of the State is among its most important assets and that the rapid social and economic developments of contemporary society threaten to destroy the remaining vestiges of this heritage.  While chapter 6E, Hawaii Revised Statues, provides the framework for a comprehensive statewide historic preservation program, including the requirement to consider the impact of state projects on historic properties, your Committee finds significance in actively working toward maintaining, restoring, rehabilitating, and reusing state-owned historic properties.  This measure will work towards fulfilling the goal of preserving treasured state-owned historic properties for the education, inspiration, and enrichment of the people by establishing a working group to lead, manage, and implement a comprehensive State-owned Historic Property Preservation Plan.

     Your Committee notes the concerns raised in testimony by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which advised the inclusion of the Chairs of the Cultural Resources Commission for each county or their designees and the Chair of the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board.  Your Committee also notes the concerns raise in testimony by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which noted that the Historic Preservation Program carried out by the State Historic Preservation Division already includes a state‑wide inventory to identify and document historic properties, including burial sites, and the measure as written could be read to redistribute costs associated with completing the inventory amongst the entities represented by members participating in the State-owned Historic Properties Preservation Plan Working Group.  Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to address these concerns.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting language that expands the purpose of the State-Owned Historic Properties Preservation Plan Working Group and clarifies what must be included in the scope of its plan and reports to the Legislature;

     (2)  Adding as members to the State-owned Historic Property Preservation Plan Working Group the following:

          (A)  The Chair of the Cultural Resources Commission for each county or their designees;

          (B)  The Chairperson of the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board or their designee;

          (C)  A member from the Department of Accounting and General Services; and

          (D)  The Chairs of the House of Representatives Standing Committee and Senate Standing Committee with primary jurisdiction over historic preservation; and

     (3)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2083, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2083, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts,