Bill > HB1016

This bill requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development (OPSD) to conduct a comprehensive integrated land use study focusing on agricultural districts in Hawaii, addressing the complex challenges of balancing multiple state goals including affordable housing development, food production, renewable energy, and climate adaptation. The study will develop data-driven estimates of land use needs by compiling and analyzing information from various government agencies and stakeholders, with the aim of creating recommendations for each county that support competing land use priorities. The OPSD will be required to conduct community outreach, analyze available acreage, and assess potential impacts of proposed land use changes, incorporating existing sustainability plans and climate adaptation reports. To support this effort, the bill establishes a new full-time equivalent (FTE) planner position and appropriates $350,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and an additional $150,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund the study. The OPSD must submit an interim report before the 2026 legislative session and a final report before the 2027 legislative session, with the overall goal of providing a strategic guide for more integrated and sustainable land use planning in Hawaii's agricultural districts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1016&year=2026