Hawaii Senate Bill SB1334

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/25
• Refer: 1/27/25

Caption

Relating To Land Use.

Summary

SB1334 would change Hawaii’s land use district boundary amendment process by giving county land use decision-making authorities a larger role in certain reclassification requests. The bill is aimed at aligning state land use district boundaries with county general plans and development plans, especially where counties have already designated areas for urban growth or other planned uses. The bill’s findings state that a significant amount of land is already within county-designated growth areas but remains outside the state urban district, and that the current mismatch slows development and housing production while also complicating protection of agricultural lands. Under the bill, county planning agencies could petition county decision-makers to amend district boundaries for lands greater than 15 acres when the change would conform to the county’s general plan or development plan. The bill also preserves county authority over smaller boundary amendments and requires notice to the state Land Use Commission and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. County-approved changes would become effective on the date set by the county decision-making authority, with the county planning director required to transmit the decision and maps to state agencies within 60 days.

Impact

SB1334 would amend section 205-3.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to expand county-level processing of state land use district boundary amendments in limited circumstances. It would create a new pathway for county planning agencies to initiate amendments for parcels over 15 acres when the requested change conforms to adopted county plans, while leaving conservation lands, important agricultural lands, and certain larger matters within the Land Use Commission’s existing jurisdiction. The bill also authorizes counties to consolidate district boundary proceedings with related county planning, development plan, or zoning actions, potentially reducing duplicative review and shortening the approval process for land use changes.

Sentiment

The bill’s stated purpose and framing suggest generally favorable sentiment toward local control, streamlined permitting, and housing production. The text emphasizes that county plans are developed through extensive local input and that aligning state districts with those plans would better reflect local growth decisions. No committee transcripts or votes were provided, so there is no recorded debate or formal vote history in the supplied materials to indicate broader legislative support or opposition.

Contention

The main policy tension is between county autonomy and the state’s traditional role in land use district boundary control. Supporters would likely view the bill as a practical way to reduce delays, support housing and development where counties want growth, and better match state districts to local plans. Potential opponents may be concerned that shifting more authority to counties could weaken statewide oversight, create inconsistent land use decisions across counties, or reduce scrutiny of boundary changes affecting agricultural or other sensitive lands. The bill attempts to address some of those concerns by keeping conservation districts and important agricultural lands under Land Use Commission review and by limiting the county-initiated process to amendments consistent with county plans.