SR 202: URGING THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PROHIBIT certain LEASEs of PUBLIC LAND TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

SENATE RESOLUTION

URGING THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PROHIBIT certain LEASEs of PUBLIC LAND TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

     WHEREAS, the State, as the custodian of its lands, has a duty to protect the environment and ensure public lands are managed responsibly; and

     WHEREAS, landlords commonly establish rules and conditions for their tenants to protect the integrity and condition of leased properties, and the State, in its capacity as a landlord, should maintain the same standards; and

     WHEREAS, when leasing public lands, it is within the authority of the State to insist that lessees, including the United States Department of Defense and any branch of the United States military, comply with all environmental maintenance and remediation obligations; and

     WHEREAS, environmental contamination and degradation of public lands have significant consequences for Hawaii’s ecosystems, water resources, and public health; and

     WHEREAS, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and remediation efforts serves to protect Hawaii's natural resources and the well-being of its residents; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the State is urged to prohibit any lease or lease extension for public lands between the State and the United States Department of Defense or any branch of the United States military if the United States Department of Defense or branch of the United States military is noncompliant with any order, consent decree, or memoranda of agreement requiring environmental maintenance or remediation activities with regard to the subject public lands or any law, rule, or order on a matter affecting the health and safety of the State's residents; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit a formal request to the United States Department of Defense to incorporate these environmental compliance requirements into all current leases of public lands; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Land and Natural Resources also request that, as an alternative option, the United States Department of Defense or applicable branch of the United States military remove all hazards from leased lands and conduct necessary remediation and restoration services to ensure that those lands are suitable for agriculture, residential use, and human habitation before the end of the lease term; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit reports to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2026 and 2027 Regular Sessions on the status of the request and any related negotiations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Report Title: 

DOD; DLNR; United States Military; Leases; Lease Extensions; Prohibitions; Public Lands