HI SB903

Amends the Public Land Trust Working Group established under Act 226 (2022) by expanding membership from 6 to 7 members: 2 appointed by the governor, 3 by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees, 1 by the senate president, and 1 by the house speaker

Requires the working group to submit four reports: a first interim report on public land trust inventory by August 1, 2026; a second interim report on financial reporting and accounting by December 1, 2026; a preliminary draft settlement by June 1, 2027; and a final report with draft settlement by October 1, 2027

Mandates the State, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and other applicable parties begin preliminary negotiations on the final draft settlement by October 1, 2027, which may include monetary amounts, real property, or in-kind assets

Appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same amount for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Legislative Reference Bureau to retain independent third-party professionals, contingent on matching funds from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Tasks independent consultants with assessing accuracy of the public land trust information system, validating revenue reporting, identifying gaps in federal, state, and county agency reporting, and recommending improvements to land inventory and financial tracking