HB 738 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Summary

Creates a process for expediting the review of majority-residential mixed-use transit-oriented development or residential transit-oriented development on certain parcels within county-designated transit-oriented development zones that have a low risk of affecting historically significant resources. Authorizes lead agencies, including county governments, to make determinations on the potential effects of a project. Creates a ninety-day limit, or thirty-day if no historic property is to be affected, to concur or not concur with project effect determinations. Exempts projects with written concurrence from further review unless there is a change to the project or additional historic properties, aviation artifacts, or burial sites are identified within the project area. Establishes notice and reporting requirements if there is a change to the project or additional historic properties, aviation artifacts, or burial sites are identified within the project area after the initial written concurrence. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB738_HD1 → HB738_HD2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

HB 738 HD2 significantly revises the historic preservation process to expedite housing development in transit-oriented areas while maintaining protections for historic resources. The bill introduces new definitions for 'majority-residential mixed-use transit-oriented development' and creates a streamlined review process for projects in low-risk zones. It establishes a 90-day (or 30-day if no historic properties are affected) review timeline with a 'deemed concurrence' mechanism if the department fails to respond in time. The bill also adds appeal rights to the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board and Governor, and requires counties to identify and classify specific parcels near transit stations by January 1, 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include specific provisions for transit-oriented development zones and majority-residential mixed-use projects, with new eligibility criteria based on risk assessment categories.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'majority-residential mixed-use transit-oriented development' to clarify which projects qualify for expedited review.

TIMELINE

Established a 90-day review period (or 30 days if no historic properties affected) with a 'deemed concurrence' provision if the department fails to respond.

ENFORCEMENT

Added appeal rights to the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board and Governor for decisions or departmental inaction.

REQUIREMENT

Requires counties to identify and classify specific parcels near mass transit stations by January 1, 2026, into risk categories.

Mandates that high-risk parcels still require full department review, while low-risk parcels may be exempt from further review after initial concurrence.

SCOPE

Expanded applicability to include majority-residential mixed-use transit-oriented development projects in addition to existing residential transit-oriented development.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kitagawa, Ward excused (3).

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 600) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 11, 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, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 239) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.

lower

Jan 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Grandinetti, Kila, La Chica; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Muraoka, Pierick; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Kitagawa.

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to HSG, WAL, JHA, referral sheet 4

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to WAL, HSG, JHA, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

9 primary · 1 co-sponsor