HB 821 Summary

• Authorizes the state historic preservation division to delegate historic preservation project reviews to individual counties, subject to department certification in consultation with the office of Hawaiian affairs.

• Counties receiving delegation authority must adopt an ordinance consistent with state requirements, hire qualified professional staff meeting state standards, establish organizational controls to ensure independent determinations, and avoid conflicts of interest.

• Exempts from county delegation all reviews of properties listed on the Hawaii or national registers of historic places, and retains all state responsibility for burial site reviews under sections 6E-43, 6E-43.5, and 6E-43.6.

• Allows the department to establish a certification program for third-party individuals and organizations to conduct pre-submission document reviews, ensuring completeness, compliance with requirements, and independence from document drafters.

• Changes department rule-making process from formal administrative rules under chapter 91 to written policies adopted by the board of land and natural resources at a public meeting, exempt from chapter 91 requirements; effective January 1, 2050.