Blog 🚫 HB 738 (HD2) / 🆗 SB 1263 (SD2 HD3)

Reducing SHPD Permitting Backlog in TOD

April 4, 2025

SB Status as of 4/4/25:

This bill has successfully passed out of the House & Senate.

If both chambers agree on this version, it will go to the Governor to be sign into law.

If both chambers disagree on this version, this bill will go to conference committee and if passed, will go back to both chambers for a final floor vote.

HB Status as of 2/28/25:

This bill has passed out of its first two committees (HSG & WAL) with amendments however, it was not heard by the House JHA committee by the first decking deadline. This bill is dead.

Why Hawaiʻi YIMBY Support This Bill:

Historical review is an important process to preserve the cultural and historical importance of any given place or structure.

However, there are many TOD areas in our state that counties have identified for targeted redevelopment and more housing. In addition, many of those area have low risk of having any cultural or historical significant resources, and are already highly developed in their current state.

This bill seeks to create a process to expedite historical reviews in TOD areas with low risk of affecting historically significant resources.

Also, this bill would require a response within 90 days, or the project will be allowed to continue on to the next permitting process. There are numerous layers of permit applications and a backlog at a single department could prevent a housing project from proceeding through the permitting process, which adds an unknown variable of time. By allowing a housing project to proceed in the permitting process after 90 days, helps to keep the process moving rather than having indeterminant delay.

Bill Description:

  • Amends the procedures and required information for the Department of Land and Natural Resources historic preservation review of proposed state projects, privately owned historic property, and other proposed projects that require entitlement for use.
  • Establishes procedures for the review of transit-oriented development identified by the counties and HawaiĘ»i Community Development Authority, or HawaiĘ»i Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

This page will be updated periodically throughout the legislative session. For the most up-to-date status, please visit the bill's page on the Hawai'i State Legislature's website.