HB2636 Summary

• Establishes a Hawaii Coastal Commission within the Department of Land and Natural Resources with 13 voting members representing state government, county councils, legislature, and the public.

• Creates a Shoreline Buyback Program allowing the commission to purchase residential properties in coastal areas experiencing active erosion at 100% of fair market value.

• Limits program eligibility to property owners earning no more than 100% of area median income, who have lived in the property as their primary residence for at least 5 years, and whose property is in a special management area.

• Requires purchased properties to be transferred to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation for use as affordable rental housing, with all generated revenues dedicated to sustaining and expanding the buyback program.

• Appropriates funds from general revenues for fiscal year 2024-2025 to purchase residential properties and takes effect July 1, 2024.