RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Created a new Claims Review Working Group to calculate total amounts owed to OHA and negotiate a master settlement.

Repealed the previous working group established under Act 226 (2022) that was tasked with accounting for ceded lands and determining a 20% pro rata share of public land trust income.

Changed the composition of the working group from six members (three appointed by the Governor, three by OHA) to eight members (two by Governor, four by OHA, one by Senate President, one by House Speaker).

Set a specific expiration date for the new working group to cease operations on June 30, 2028.

Removed the requirement for the working group to submit four separate interim reports on inventory and accounting by 2026 and 2027.

Added a new requirement for the working group to determine the total amount owed to clear all future claims and to negotiate a master settlement with the State.

Removed the requirement for the working group to submit a preliminary draft settlement and a final report by 2027.

Removed the requirement for the State and OHA to begin preliminary negotiations regarding a final draft settlement by October 1, 2027.

Removed the requirement for the Legislative Reference Bureau to retain independent third-party professionals, shifting administrative support responsibility to OHA.

Added a requirement for the working group to cease to exist on June 30, 2028.

Changed the effective date of the new working group section to July 1, 2025, while the appropriation section takes effect immediately upon approval.

Changed the working group's lifespan to end on June 30, 2028, and required a single report to be submitted 20 days before the 2027 legislative session.

Modified the working group membership from six members (including two appointed by the governor) to eight members (including four appointed by the OHA board chairperson).

The Working Group's duties were expanded to include specific tasks like validating data accuracy, identifying reporting gaps across agencies, and recommending improvements to inventory and financial tracking.

The bill mandates that the State, OHA, and other parties begin preliminary negotiations regarding the final settlement draft by October 1, 2027.

The composition of the Working Group was altered to include members appointed by the Senate and House speakers, and the Governor is required to remove one of the three members originally appointed by them.

New deadlines were established requiring the Working Group to submit four specific reports between August 2026 and October 2027, culminating in a final draft settlement.

Funding was shifted from an appropriation to OHA for hiring staff to a $500,000 appropriation to the Legislative Reference Bureau to hire independent third-party professionals, with a requirement for OHA to provide matching funds.

Removed extensive legislative findings detailing the history of the public land trust, the specific failures of current reporting systems, and the legal basis for OHA's claims.

Removed detailed requirements for the working group to submit specific interim reports on financial accounting and inventory by 2027 and 2028.

Removed the specific $55 million appropriation intended for direct Native Hawaiian programs in education, health, and economic development.

Changed the appropriation to a blank amount ($____) specifically for hiring staff and purchasing equipment for the working group, rather than for direct program services.

Changed the effective date from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 3000, which appears to be a placeholder or error.

The composition of the Public Land Trust Working Group was modified to include six appointed members, two ex officio nonvoting members, and one community member, replacing the previous structure.

New requirements were added mandating the Working Group to conduct an independent third-party audit of the public land trust inventory and financial reporting to ensure accuracy and completeness.

New requirements were added for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to provide administrative support to the Working Group and submit findings on potential settlement negotiations by December 2028.

A strict reporting timeline was established, requiring interim reports by August 2027, December 2027, and June 2028, with a final report and proposed legislation due by October 2028.

A one-time appropriation of $55 million was added to be transferred to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for critical short-term needs in education, health, and economic development.

The bill clarifies that the new $55 million transfer is a one-time measure and does not replace the State's ongoing constitutional obligation to pay OHA its pro rata share of public land trust income.