HB 295 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Summary

Amends the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, to authorize the transfer of a living beneficiary's place on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' waitlist for any residential, agricultural, or pastoral tract to a qualified application successor who is at least one-fourth Hawaiian, if the beneficiary dies. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Feb 6, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB295 → HB295_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act to allow a deceased beneficiary's waitlist position to be transferred to a qualified application successor (at least one-fourth Hawaiian) who is a specific relative, rather than requiring the successor to be at least one-twenty-fifth Hawaiian. It also clarifies the definition of 'qualified application successor' to include spouses, children, grandchildren, siblings, and certain other relatives. The bill adds new provisions allowing lessees to mortgage their leasehold interests with federal-backed loans for purposes beyond just home improvements, and clarifies lease transfer rules between siblings.

Scope change

The bill expands eligibility for waitlist transfers from beneficiaries to their successors by broadening the Hawaiian ancestry requirement and specifying which relatives qualify as successors.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the minimum Hawaiian ancestry requirement for successors from one-twenty-fifth to one-fourth Hawaiian.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition of 'qualified application successor' listing specific relatives who may inherit a waitlist position: spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, or certain other relatives if no closer relatives exist.

REQUIREMENT

Added new provisions allowing lessees to mortgage their leasehold interests for loans insured or guaranteed by federal agencies, expanding beyond previous limitations.

Clarified lease transfer rules to explicitly allow transfers between siblings who are at least one-quarter Hawaiian.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 3000, or upon federal approval, indicating this is likely a placeholder or draft version.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 238) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Grandinetti, Kila, Kitagawa, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, La Chica, Pierick.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSG, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

8 primary · 0 co-sponsors