S.R. No. 31 Summary

• Requests the Governor to negotiate land exchanges where the State acquires private agricultural lands in exchange for providing state lands to private parties for development of affordable, workforce, and other housing.

• Directs the Governor to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and other relevant state agencies holding title to state lands suitable for exchange.

• Negotiation goals include obtaining large tracts of suitable agricultural lands for the State to lease to farmers for diversified agriculture, and providing private parties with urban lands along Oahu's rail transit corridor for housing development and mixed-use commercial uses.

• Requires the Governor to submit a report to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2019 Regular Session detailing the feasibility of land exchanges, a list of suitable parcels with descriptions and market values, and any needed appropriations or proposed legislation.

• Addresses Hawaii's agricultural self-sufficiency crisis (agricultural production dropped from 350,830 acres in crop production in 1980 to 151,830 acres in 2015) and housing shortage (estimated need for 24,551 housing units from 2016-2020).