SB2976

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2976
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the department of land and natural resources.

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

SECTION 1. Section 171-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§171-6 Powers. Except as otherwise provided by law, the board of land and natural resources shall have the powers and functions granted to the heads of departments and the board of land and natural resources under chapter 26.

In addition to the foregoing, the board may:

(1) Adopt a seal;

(2) Administer oaths;

(3) Prescribe forms of instruments and documents;

(4) Adopt rules [~~which, upon compliance with~~] pursuant to chapter 91[,] that shall [~~have~~]:

(A) Have the force and effect of law; and

(B) Implement any federal regulation as it existed on January 1, 2025, in the area of public lands of the State and minerals thereon and all water and coastal areas of the State except commercial harbor areas of the State, including soil conservation function, forests and forest reserves, aquatic life, wildlife resources, state parks, historic sites, and all activities including boating, ocean recreation, and coastal areas programs that it deems are in the public interest;

(5) Set, charge, demand, and collect reasonable fees for the preparation of documents to be issued, for the surveying of public lands, and for the issuing of certified copies of its government records, which fees, when collected, shall be deposited into the state general fund, unless otherwise specified in this chapter;

(6) Establish additional restrictions, requirements, or conditions, consistent with those prescribed in this chapter, relating to the use of particular land being disposed of, the terms of sale, lease, license, or permit, and the qualifications of any person to draw, bid, or negotiate for public land;

(7) Reduce or waive the lease rental at the beginning of the lease on any lease of public land to be used for any agricultural or pastoral use, or for resort, commercial, industrial, or other business use where the land being leased requires substantial improvements to be placed thereon; provided that the reduction or waiver shall not exceed two years for land to be used for any agricultural or pastoral use, or exceed one year for land to be used for resort, commercial, industrial, or other business use. When a lease for resort, commercial, industrial, or other business or residential purposes requires a lessee to demolish existing improvements or provide basic infrastructure, including drainage, sewer, water, electricity, and other utilities, before the lessee can make productive use of the land, the board may approve a reduction or waiver of lease rental for a period of up to twenty years; provided that the aggregate amount of the reduced or waived lease rental shall not exceed the amount of the lessee's total expenditures for demolition or provision of the infrastructure;

(8) Delegate to the chairperson or employees of the department of land and natural resources, subject to the board's control and responsibility, powers and duties as may be lawful or proper for the performance of the functions vested in the board;

(9) Use arbitration under chapter 658A to settle any controversy arising out of any existing or future lease;

(10) Set, charge, and collect reasonable fees in an amount sufficient to defray the cost of performing or otherwise providing for the inspection of activities permitted upon the issuance of a land license involving a commercial purpose;

(11) Appoint hearing officers to conduct public hearings as provided by law and under conditions as the board by rules shall establish;

(12) Bring actions as may be necessary to remove or remedy encroachments upon public lands. Any person causing an encroachment upon public land shall:

(A) Be fined [no] not more than $1,000 a day for the first offense;

(B) Be fined [no] not less than $1,000 nor more than $4,000 per day upon the second offense and thereafter;

(D) Assume costs as may result from adverse effects from restoration; and

(E) Be liable for administrative costs incurred by the department and for payment of damages;

(13) Set, charge, and collect interest and a service charge on delinquent payments due on leases, sales, or other accounts. The rate of interest shall not exceed one per cent a month and the service charge shall not exceed $50 [a] per month for each delinquent payment; provided that the contract shall state the interest rate and the service charge and shall be signed by the party to be charged;

(14) Set, charge, and collect additional rentals for the unauthorized use of public lands by a lessee, licensee, grantee, or permittee who is in violation of any term or condition of a lease, license, easement, or revocable permit, retroactive to the date of the occurrence of the violation. The amounts shall be considered delinquent payments and shall be subject to interest and service charges as provided in paragraph (13);

(15) Set, charge, and collect reasonable fines for violation of this chapter or any rule adopted thereunder. Any person engaging in any prohibited use of public lands [or], conducting any prohibited activity on public lands, or violating any of the other provisions of this chapter or any rule adopted thereunder, for which violation a penalty is not otherwise provided, shall be:

(A) Fined [no] not more than $5,000 per violation for a first violation or a violation beyond five years of the last violation; provided that, after written or verbal notification from the department, an additional $1,000 per day per violation may be assessed for each day in which the violation persists;

(B) Fined [no] not more than $10,000 per violation for a second violation within five years of the last violation; provided that, after written or verbal notification from the department, an additional $2,000 per day per violation may be assessed for each day in which the violation persists;

(C) Fined [no] not more than $20,000 per violation for a third or subsequent violation within five years of the last violation; provided that, after written or verbal notification from the department, an additional $4,000 per day per violation may be assessed for each day in which the violation persists; and

(D) Liable for administrative costs and expenses incurred by the department and for payment for damages, including but not limited to natural resource damages.

In addition to the fines, administrative costs, and damages provided for hereinabove, [~~for damage to or theft of natural resources,~~] the board may also set, charge, and collect a fine for damage to or theft of natural resources that, in its discretion, is appropriate considering the value of the natural resource that is damaged or the subject of the theft. In arriving at an appropriate fine, the board may consider the market value of the natural resource damaged or taken and any other factor it deems appropriate, such as the loss of the natural resource to its natural habitat and environment and the cost of restoration or replacement. The remedies provided for in this paragraph are cumulative and in addition to any other remedies allowed by law.

No person shall be sanctioned pursuant to this section for the exercise of native Hawaiian gathering rights and traditional cultural practices as authorized by law or as permitted by the department pursuant to article XII, section 7, of the Hawaii [~~state constitution;~~] State Constitution;

(16) Issue revenue bonds, subject to the approval of the legislature. All revenue bonds shall be issued pursuant to part III of chapter 39, except as provided in this chapter. All revenue bonds shall be issued in the name of the department and not in the name of the State. The final maturity date of the revenue bonds may be any date not exceeding thirty years from the date of issuance;

(17) Pledge or assign all or any part of the receipts and revenues of the department. The revenue bonds shall be payable from and secured solely by the revenue derived by the department from the industrial park or parks for which the bonds are issued;

(18) Reimburse the state general fund for debt service on general obligation bonds or reimbursable general obligation bonds issued by the State for purposes of this chapter;

(19) Notwithstanding part II of chapter 205A to the contrary, plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain any lands or facilities under the jurisdiction of the division of boating and ocean recreation of the department without the need to obtain a special management area minor permit or special management area use permit; and

(20) Do any and all things necessary to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers granted in this chapter."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

BLNR; Rules; Federal Regulations; Public Lands

Description:

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt by rule any federal regulation relating to the public lands of the State as it existed on 1/1/2025 that it deems is in the public interest.

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

SB 2976: BLNR; RULES; FEDERAL REGULATIONS; PUBLIC LANDS

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