STAND. COM. REP. 3045

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2528

H.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 2528, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONSERVATION LAND,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide a conservation land tax credit for taxpayers who donate certain lands to the State or who voluntarily initiate the reclassification of residentially zoned land to conservation land.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Audubon Society, Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club, and three individuals. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Taxation. Comments were submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committees find that conservation of Hawaii's culture and natural environment is of great importance, and tax credits for taxpayers who voluntarily donate or rezone their land to conservation will encourage this. Your Committees believe that this measure provides the incentives that should encourage taxpayers to donate and rezone their land to conservation.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2528, H.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations,

____________________________

CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair