Bill > HB459

This bill requires each county in Hawaii (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai) to establish and fill specific positions dedicated exclusively to processing permit applications for state projects. If a county cannot immediately fill these positions, they may contract with third-party services to handle the permit applications in the interim. The bill defines a "state project" as any activity directly undertaken by the State or its political subdivisions, or supported through state funding, including appropriations, contracts, grants, or loans. The bill also appropriates funds from the state's general revenues to help each county establish these dedicated permit processing positions, though the specific dollar amounts are not specified in the provided text. The new requirement will take effect on July 1, 2025, and aims to streamline and potentially expedite the permit review process for state-related projects by creating specialized staffing within county permitting agencies.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=459&year=2026