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Bill > SB769


HI SB769

Relating To Mauna Kea.


summary

Introduced
01/17/2025
In Committee
01/23/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Amends the conservation district use permit application, approval, and oversight responsibilities of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, and lessees. Provides that certain conservation district use permits that are in effect as of 7/1/2028, to which the University of Hawaii is a permittee or other named party, shall not be transferred to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.

AI Summary

This bill addresses the management and governance of Mauna Kea, focusing on clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (the Authority) and the University of Hawaii (UH) in conservation district use permit (CDUP) processes. The bill stipulates that lessees, not the Authority, will be the primary applicants for conservation district use permits for lands subject to their leases, with the Authority becoming the regulatory body for approving and overseeing these permits after a transition period. The Authority may still apply for permits for uses that do not benefit a specific lessee, such as common area improvements. Importantly, the bill specifies that certain existing conservation district use permits held by the University of Hawaii for various astronomical observatories will not be transferred to the Authority as of July 1, 2028, with UH remaining the named permittee while still subject to the Authority's oversight. This legislation is part of an ongoing effort to balance cultural sensitivity, scientific research, and community trust in the management of Mauna Kea, following previous reforms enacted in Act 255 of 2022 that established the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Referred to WTL, JDC. (on 01/23/2025)

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