SB3297 is a straightforward land transfer measure. It directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer fee simple title to two specified parcels of land, identified by tax map keys (3) 4-1-6:7 and (3) 2-6-18:1, to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The bill states that the transfer is to be carried out pursuant to Act 90, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, indicating the measure is implementing or advancing an earlier statutory framework for moving these lands between agencies.
The bill does not create a new regulatory program or alter private property rights generally; instead, it changes ownership and administrative control of specific state-owned parcels. Its practical effect is to place the land under the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, which may affect how the parcels are managed, used, or developed for agricultural or biosecurity-related purposes. The bill takes effect upon approval.
Impact
SB3297 would amend the disposition of two state land parcels by requiring DLNR to convey fee simple title to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The bill affects state agency property holdings and the administration of public lands, but it does not appear to modify broader land use, zoning, or taxation statutes. Its legal impact is limited to the identified tax map keys and to the interagency transfer authority referenced in Act 90 (2003).
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee testimony or vote history in the provided materials, so sentiment cannot be measured from discussion. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears routine and administrative, with no evident opposition or controversy reflected in the available record. The referral to WLA/AEN and WAM suggests it was treated as a land and fiscal/governance matter rather than a contentious policy proposal.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or votes. Potential areas of scrutiny, if any, would likely concern whether the transfer is consistent with Act 90 (2003), whether the parcels are needed for agricultural or biosecurity purposes, and whether the transfer serves the state’s land management interests. However, the available record does not show any stated objections from agencies, legislators, or the public.