HB 1358 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC LAND TRUST WORKING GROUP.

Summary

Appropriates moneys to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to facilitate the hiring of necessary staff and the purchase of equipment and professional services on behalf of the public land trust working group. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Mar 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1358_HD2 → HB1358_HD3 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill version (HD3) replaces the previous version (HD2) by adding extensive explanatory text and background information about the Public Land Trust Working Group, while removing the original header and footer information. The substantive policy content regarding appropriations and the Working Group's purpose remains largely the same, but the narrative context has been significantly expanded to provide historical and legal background.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on appropriating funds for the Public Land Trust Working Group, but the version now includes detailed legislative findings and historical context that was not present in the previous version.

TECHNICAL

Added extensive background text explaining the history of the Public Land Trust, the 1959 Admission Act, OHA's role, and previous legislative actions (Acts 15, 178, 226) related to the trust.

Included detailed findings about the Working Group's research into land inventory issues, financial review gaps, and the need for third-party consultants.

Added a specific finding that approximately $1,000,000 is needed for third-party independent professionals to evaluate the information system and reporting accuracy.

Removed original document header information including page numbers, bill numbers, and legislative session details that were part of the HD2 version.

Changed the bill number designation from H.D. 2 to H.D. 3 to reflect the committee revision status.

HB1358_HD1 → HB1358_HD2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill was substantially rewritten from its original version. The new version adds detailed findings about the history of the public land trust, identifies specific problems with current inventory and accounting systems, and appropriates funding for the Public Land Trust Working Group to hire third-party experts. The original version had a placeholder appropriation amount while the new version includes specific fiscal years but leaves the dollar amount blank for legislative action.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a simple appropriation request to include comprehensive findings about the public land trust's history, current problems with land inventory and financial reporting, and the need for independent third-party review.

FISCAL

Added specific appropriation for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 for hiring staff and purchasing equipment/services, though the dollar amount remains blank for legislative determination.

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed findings about the history of the public land trust, including the 1959 Admission Act requirements and the 1978 Constitutional Convention recognition of native Hawaiian beneficiaries.

Added specific findings identifying problems with the current land inventory system, including missing parcels, lack of tax map keys for submerged lands, and the 'rule of thumb' method for determining ceded land status.

Added findings about financial reporting issues, noting that state agency self-reported information is not audited and that there has been no independent third-party review since 2015-2016.

DEFINITION

Added specific description of the Public Land Trust Working Group's objectives under Act 226, including accounting for ceded lands and determining the twenty percent pro rata share due to OHA.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from an unspecified date to July 1, 3000, which appears to be a placeholder or error that needs correction.

EXEMPTIONS

Added exemption from chapter 103D Hawaii Revised Statutes for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs when obtaining services from uniquely qualified persons.

Floor votes · House Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

49–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 51

Mar 4, 2025

D Democratic41

41 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican10

8 Yea 2

80% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to WTL/HWN, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 361).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 685) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 198) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 4

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors