Bill > HB1015

This bill addresses a discrepancy in land use classification in Hawaii by modifying the process for amending state land use district boundaries. Currently, 65,792 acres (approximately 1.6% of state lands) are located in county-designated urban growth areas but are not officially classified as urban districts. The bill allows county planning agencies to petition for changes to land use district boundaries, even for areas larger than 15 acres, to align with their adopted general and community development plans. Previously, such changes for larger land areas or conservation districts could only be processed by the state Land Use Commission through a more complex contested case process. The new provisions enable counties to more easily reclassify land use districts to match their long-range planning goals, which are developed with extensive community input. This streamlined approach aims to facilitate development, support housing production in designated growth areas, and protect agricultural lands by allowing counties to have more direct control over land use district classifications. The bill requires that any boundary amendments made by county authorities be transmitted to the state Land Use Commission and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism within 60 days of the decision.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1015&year=2025