Committee approves public-lands bill with DOE amendment to preserve school input on transfers

Deputy Superintendent Dean Uchida told the House Committee on Water & Land that the Department of Education supports HP1393 in principle but asked the committee to amend language to protect the department’s planning for school property.

Uchida said DOE requested changes to the bill so that deletions would begin on a specific line and maintain a clause ensuring DOE consultation before transfers. "We’re responsible for the upkeep maintenance of all the school properties ... if they don't consult with us, we have the potential ... we might get into a situation where they want the land, but we have a proposed use for it in the future," Uchida said.

Kenyon Tam of the Hawaii State School Facilities Authority offered written comments and stood available for questions. Representative Shimizu asked whether the School Facilities Authority (SFA) currently has authority to request land transfers. Uchida answered that SFA can request transfers, and such transfers are subject to the governor’s approval.

At the resumed session the chair recommended passing the measure with an HD2 that incorporated DOE’s technical amendments, and the committee adopted the recommendation. The measure will go to the Finance Committee for financial review.

Why it matters: The change narrows the risk that land needed for future school construction or expansion could be transferred without DOE input, preserving the department’s ability to plan for campus needs.

Ending: The committee voted to pass HP1393 with DOE’s amendments; the bill advances to Finance for consideration of fiscal impacts.