REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP TO REFORM OR ELIMINATE THE LAND COURT.

Senate Resolution 5 (SR 5) requests the Chief Justice of Hawaii’s Supreme Court to establish a working group to study whether to reform or eliminate the Land Court. The resolution cites the Land Court’s archaic processes, delays in simple property transactions, lack of physical title certificates for owners, and backlogs at the Bureau of Conveyances as key concerns. The working group would include members from the Judiciary, Legislature, Board of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Bar Association, and title companies, with a report due by early 2026. This resolution does not enact changes but initiates a review process to address systemic issues in land title handling.