SB 903 Summary

• Amends the Public Land Trust Working Group established under Act 226 (SLH 2022) by changing membership from six members (three appointed by governor, three by OHA) to seven members (two by governor, three by OHA, one by senate president, one by speaker of house).

• Requires the working group to submit four reports to the legislature: inventory report by August 1, 2026; financial reporting and accounting report by December 1, 2026; preliminary draft settlement by June 1, 2027; and final settlement report by October 1, 2027.

• The preliminary and final draft settlements must address the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' pro rata share of public land trust income and proceeds for fiscal year 2022-2023 and each subsequent fiscal year, which may consist of monetary amounts, real property, or in-kind assets.

• Requires the State, OHA, and other applicable parties to begin preliminary negotiations on the final draft settlement by October 1, 2027.

• Appropriates $500,000 for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to the Legislative Reference Bureau to retain independent third-party professionals, contingent on matching funds from OHA.