All Roll Calls
Yes: 238 • No: 17
HawaiiSB 7392025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)Senate
RELATING TO LAND EXCHANGE.
Sponsored By: Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Allows the Governor to negotiate land exchanges, subject to approval by the Board of Land and Natural Resources, to acquire lands that are suitable for long-term diversified agricultural production in exchange for land for private affordable, workforce, or other housing development. Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)
Land ExchangeDiversified Agricultural ProductionAffordable HousingWorkforce HousingHousing DevelopmentWAL, AGR, FIN
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Faster housing rezoning near Honolulu rail
The Governor can seek land-use changes and rezoning to support housing or mixed-use development through land exchanges. This authority covers land within one-half mile of a federally approved rail station in the City and County of Honolulu. The land must have state urban classification and county zoning suitable for housing or mixed uses. The Land Use Commission and county planning director must adopt the requested changes within 30 days after receiving notice.
Housing developers get fee and rule relief
Private housing and mixed-use projects covered by the law are exempt from state and county procurement rules, impact fees, and other development charges. Transferred land leaves the state-land rules system, except for requirements kept by this law. Projects must still follow applicable private-land rules, including health, safety, and building-permit requirements. Housing remains subject to private-land environmental and historic-preservation review, despite prior state ownership or state or county housing assistance. The law does not require developers to pass fee savings on to residents.
Land swaps support farms and housing
Beginning July 1, 2025, the Governor can negotiate land swaps with approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources. The State gets land suitable for long-term diversified farming, including land for leasing to farmers. Private parties get state land for affordable, workforce, or other housing for Hawaii residents. Each deed must require housing use through an enforceable restriction or a State right to reclaim the land. Land undergoing development approvals, with substantial state spending, cannot be a priority for exchange. State-land appraisals must follow existing land-exchange law and reflect rezoning and land-use changes under this law. Acquired land takes on the ceded or public land trust status of the state land exchanged. The Governor must report to lawmakers at least 20 days before the 2026 regular session. The report must assess promising exchanges, list suitable parcels and their market values, and identify needed funding, legislation, or agency actions. After the report, lawmakers can meet in special session to act on proposed exchanges.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Donovan M. Dela Cruz
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
AQUINO
Affiliation unavailable
Brandon J.C. Elefante
Democratic • Senate
Troy N. Hashimoto
Democratic • Senate
Michelle N. Kidani
Democratic • Senate
SAN BUENAVENTURA
Affiliation unavailable
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/30/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 22 • No: 3
House vote • 4/30/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 43 • No: 7
House vote • 4/25/2025
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments....
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/25/2025
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS....
Yes: 4 • No: 0
House vote • 4/3/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 44 • No: 5
House vote • 3/28/2025
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ...
Yes: 14 • No: 0
House vote • 3/19/2025
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ...
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • 3/14/2025
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on AGR...
Yes: 46 • No: 1
House vote • 3/11/2025
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...
Yes: 8 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 25 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/19/2025
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/12/2025
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/12/2025
The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act 279, 07/02/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1382).
7/2/2025SenateAct 279, on 07/02/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1382).
7/2/2025HouseReceived notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821).
5/2/2025SenateEnrolled to Governor.
5/2/2025SenateReceived notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888).
5/1/2025HousePassed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, McKelvey). Excused, 0 (none).
4/30/2025SenatePassed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Amato, Hussey voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Belatti, Garcia, Iwamoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Poepoe, Shimizu voting no (7) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
4/30/2025HouseConference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 4:00PM in Conference Room 411.
4/25/2025HouseSenate Conferees Changed: Senator Aquino added as Co-Chair. Senator Hashimoto discharged as Co-Chair.
4/25/2025SenateReceived notice of change in Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 880).
4/25/2025HouseThe Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Kahaloa, Lamosao, Morikawa, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
4/25/2025HouseThe Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Gabbard, Aquino, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.
4/25/2025SenateReported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 193).
4/25/2025Senate48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25.
4/25/2025SenateReported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 193) as amended in (CD 1).
4/25/2025HouseForty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25.
4/25/2025HouseConference committee meeting scheduled for 04-25-25 10:15AM; Conference Room 229.
4/24/2025SenateReceived notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 754).
4/21/2025SenateHouse Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Kahaloa, Lamosao Co-Chairs; Morikawa, Souza.
4/17/2025HouseSenate Conferees Appointed: Inouye Chair; Gabbard, Hashimoto Co-Chairs; McKelvey, DeCorte.
4/16/2025SenateReceived notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 809).
4/16/2025HouseReceived from House (Hse. Com. No. 471).
4/4/2025SenateSenate disagrees with House amendments.
4/4/2025SenateReceived notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 590).
4/4/2025HouseReported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1922), recommending passage on Third Reading.
4/3/2025House
Bill Text
Bill Text
Original
SB739_CD1
SB739_HD1
SB739_SD1
SB739_SD2
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