A Joint House and Senate conference committee meeting in Room 229 on Tuesday adopted SB 79, House Draft 2, with the amendments in SCD 1, the committee chair announced.

The bill requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to determine the effect of any proposed state or county housing projects that may affect “a historical property, an aviation artifact or a burial site within 90 days of a request for determination,” a House conferee said during the meeting. The conference committee also directed that the department adopt rules “with regards to chapter 91.”

Senator Inouye, speaking as the Senate chair of the conference committee, thanked collaborators and outside commenters for input and relayed a message from a former medical professional: “this measure is much clearer and more straightforward,” he said. Inouye then called for the vote; Senate and House conferees present answered “aye” in roll-call sequence and the measure was adopted.

Votes at a glance

- SB 79, House Draft 2, with amendments in SCD 1 — Adopted (effective upon approval). Senate conferees recorded as voting aye included Chair Inouye, Co‑chair Chang, Co‑chair Richards, Co‑chair Gabbard, Member Alefonte and Member DeCort. House conferees recorded as voting aye included Co‑chair Absalom, Co‑chair Hashem, Co‑chair Tarnas and Member Miyake. Member Mora Oka was excused.

The committee discussion also noted that the bill language provides for historic‑resource reviews tied to project areas and notification procedures if historic, cultural or archaeological resources are discovered. Committee members said the measure will require further work in finance and Ways and Means releases before final enactment.

The conference committee moved on to a related item, listed in the transcript as HP 830, HD 2, SD 2, also tied to historic‑preservation reviews. House and Senate conferees agreed to reconvene the conference committee the following day at 10:45 a.m. in the same room to continue work on the related draft, the House conferee said.