SR 104: 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.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2025-03-28
Current Status:
Passed
(2025-04-01: Report and Resolution Adopted as amended (SD1). Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa).)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
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.
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.
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THE SENATE |
S.R. NO. |
104 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE 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 Senate 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 chairperson 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 Environmental Management Division of the Department of Health; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairperson 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 is requested to 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; Chief 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.
Task Force for Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development; Permitting; Report
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THE SENATE |
S.R. NO. |
104 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE 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 Senate 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.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Task Force for Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development; Permitting
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Date
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Status
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| Apr 1, 2025 | Report and Resolution Adopted as amended (SD1). Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). |
| Mar 31, 2025 | One Day Notice 04-01-25. |
| Mar 31, 2025 | Reported from EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1416) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1). |
| Mar 20, 2025 | The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. |
| Mar 17, 2025 | The committee(s) on EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. |
| Mar 12, 2025 | Referred to EIG. |
| Mar 7, 2025 | Offered. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Mar 20, 2025 | The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| Development Corporation | ** Support | |
| Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation | *** Support | Mar 20, 2025 |
| Public Utilities Commission, Land Use Commission, and Hawaii Housing Finance | ** Support | |
| Public Utilities Commission | *** Support | Mar 20, 2025 |
| State Land Use Commission | *** Support | Mar 20, 2025 |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1416
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.R. No. 104
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 104 entitled:
"SENATE 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 and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Request the establishment of the Task Force for Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) to identify actions needed to expedite, facilitate, and coordinate state and intergovernmental permit processes; and
(2) Request the Task Force for SPEED to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2026.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission, Land Use Commission, and Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Your Committee finds that the permitting process is often time-consuming due to the understaffing of resource-constrained agencies, complexity and multiplicity of requirements, sequential and contingent nature of reviews, and potential for legal challenges, among other factors. According to the testimony received by your Committee, the entitlement and permitting process can take over five years, creating significant delays and uncertainty for housing projects, increasing carrying costs and capital market risks, and deterring investment in affordable housing. Your Committee notes that a more accessible permitting process would particularly benefit small businesses and entrepreneurs as they navigate regulatory requirements. By identifying inefficiencies and developing strategies for simplification, the task force established in this measure can help enhance government efficiency, support economic growth, and improve transparency in the State.
Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 104, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 104, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,
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________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Mar 20, 2025 | SR104_TESTIMONY_EIG_03-20-25_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
3MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):