HB 1844 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Summary

Except for Important Agricultural Lands, requires the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands that are designated for urban growth under a county general plan or county development plan as being in the urban district at the request of the county, subject to certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Mar 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1844_HD1 → HB1844_HD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to expand the scope of land reclassification requests by adding an exemption for important agricultural lands. The changes clarify that the commission must process requests according to specific chapter 91 requirements and allow counties to submit plan-related data as supplemental materials. These updates aim to streamline the process while protecting designated agricultural areas from urban reclassification.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was narrowed by adding an exemption for lands designated as important agricultural lands, preventing them from being reclassified into urban districts under this section.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exemption preventing the reclassification of lands designated as important agricultural lands pursuant to section 205-44.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that the commission must process requests in accordance with chapter 91 requirements and reclassify lands only if the commission determines those requirements are satisfied.

Expanded the types of supplemental materials counties can submit to include data and studies completed as part of a county plan.

TECHNICAL

Updated the report title to reflect the broader inclusion of 'County Plans' alongside 'County General Plan'.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-19-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA/EIG, JDC.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 297).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Cochran, Grandinetti, Hussey, Perruso, Poepoe voting no (6) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Belatti, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: none; 3 Noes: Representative(s) Poepoe, Cochran, Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Garcia.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 456-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Poepoe; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors