# Hawaii HB 491: RELATING TO LAND LEASES.

Hawaii HB 491, RELATING TO LAND LEASES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) House bill sponsored by Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-02-06 (Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 195) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB491-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 491
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO LAND LEASES.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-02-06, Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 195) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
- Sponsor: Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Office of the Governor, Board of Land and Natural Resources, Impact Aid, Public Lands, Leases, WAL, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Prohibits the State from leasing any public lands, or extending the lease of any public lands, to any individual, corporation, or federal agency that is in arrears in the payment of certain moneys to the State, is noncompliant with a consent decree or memoranda of agreement with the State that requires environmental maintenance or remediation with regard to the subject public lands, or has been found to be in violation of federal or state laws aimed at protecting the environment. Requires certification by the Office of the Governor before the issuance or extension of any federal lease that the individual, corporation, or federal agency is in good standing with the State. Provides that, if any existing lessee of public lands is found not to be in good standing with the State as of the effective date of this Act, the lessee shall have three years, or until the end of the lease term, whichever is sooner, to correct the violation or the lease shall be terminated. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House

## Actions (7)

- 2025-02-06: Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 195) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. (House)
- 2025-02-06: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Ward excused (1). (House)
- 2025-02-04: 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, Iwamoto, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-01-30: Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 02-04-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 2 (House)
- 2025-01-17: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB491_HD1_.pdf)
- HB491_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB491_HD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB491_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB491_.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB491_HD1_.pdf)
- [HB491_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB491_HD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB491_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB491_.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB491-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).