Bill > HB293

This bill addresses the transfer of revenues from the Public Land Trust (PLT) to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), mandating a comprehensive process for collecting and distributing the constitutionally-mandated 20% pro rata share of income and proceeds from ceded lands. The bill requires state departments and agencies to establish trust holding accounts, carefully calculate OHA's share by determining the ceded land fraction based on land area, and transfer those funds quarterly, while also providing safeguards to ensure that transfers do not conflict with existing federal or state legal obligations or pre-existing financial commitments. The legislation stems from a historical context of ongoing disputes about OHA's rightful share of public land trust revenues, with previous legislative actions having set interim fixed amounts or partial resolutions. Notably, a 2015-2016 financial review suggested that OHA's 20% share could be approximately $78.9 million annually, and the bill aims to create a more transparent and systematic method for calculating and transferring these funds. The bill explicitly states that its passage does not resolve or settle Native Hawaiians' broader claims to ceded lands, and is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, providing state agencies time to prepare for the new accounting and transfer requirements.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=293&year=2026