Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HB1447 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 1447 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 H.D. 1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATIVE PLANT SPECIES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 1447
4	4	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 H.D. 1
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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9	9	H.B. NO.
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11	11	1447
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13	13	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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15	15	H.D. 1
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	RELATING TO NATIVE PLANT SPECIES.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii is in the midst of a biodiversity crisis. Due to rapid changes in land use over the past century, many species native to Hawaii are facing extinction in the near future. While our system of parks and nature preserves have made powerful strides in conserving biodiversity, more action is needed. The legislature also finds that private landowners are entrusted with stewardship of our islands and bear a responsibility to ensure that their natural beauty is preserved for the next generation. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to help landowners fulfill their responsibility by establishing an income tax credit for taxpayers who engage in preservation efforts using native plants. SECTION 2. Chapter 235, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§235- Native plant preservation tax credit. (a) There shall be allowed to each taxpayer subject to the tax imposed under this chapter, a native plant preservation tax credit that shall be deductible from the taxpayer's net income tax liability, if any, imposed by this chapter for the taxable year in which the credit is properly claimed. (b) In the case of a partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust, the tax credit shall be determined at the entity level. Distribution and share of credit shall be determined by rule. (c) The native plant preservation tax credit shall be equal to $1,000 multiplied by the percentage of the taxpayer's land that is occupied by native plants, as certified by the department of land and natural resources; provided that no credit shall be allowed under this section if the percentage of a taxpayer's land that is occupied by native plants is less than twenty per cent. (d) The total amount of tax credits allowed under this section shall not exceed $2,000,000 for all qualified taxpayers in any taxable year; provided that any taxpayer who is not eligible to claim the credit in a taxable year due to the $2,000,000 cap being met for that taxable year shall be eligible to claim the credit in the subsequent taxable year. (e) The department of land and natural resources shall: (1) Maintain records of the names and addresses of the taxpayers claiming the credits under this section; (2) Verify the percentage of a taxpayer's land that is occupied by native plants; (3) Certify all qualified use of native plants for the purposes of this section; and (4) Certify to each taxpayer the amount of credit the taxpayer may claim. The department of land and natural resources may assess and collect a fee to offset the costs of certifying tax credit claims under this section. (f) The director of taxation: (1) Shall prepare any forms that may be necessary to claim a tax credit under this section; (2) May require the taxpayer to furnish reasonable information to ascertain the validity of the claim for the tax credit made under this section; and (3) May adopt rules under chapter 91 necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. (g) If the tax credit under this section exceeds the taxpayer's net income tax liability, the excess of the credit over liability may be used as a credit against the taxpayer's net income tax liability in subsequent years until exhausted. All claims for the tax credit under this section, including amended claims, shall be filed on or before the end of the twelfth month following the close of the taxable year for which the credit may be claimed. Failure to comply with the foregoing provision shall constitute a waiver of the right to claim the credit. (h) As used in this section: "Native plant" means any plant that is indigenous or endemic to Hawaii. "Net income tax liability" means income tax liability reduced by all other credits allowed under this chapter." SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the department of land and natural resources to carry out its responsibilities, including for certification, with respect to the tax credit established by section 235- , Hawaii Revised Statutes, including $ for the establishment of full-time equivalent ( FTE) positions. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000, and shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022; provided that this Act shall be repealed on June 30, 2028.
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49	49	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii is in the midst of a biodiversity crisis. Due to rapid changes in land use over the past century, many species native to Hawaii are facing extinction in the near future. While our system of parks and nature preserves have made powerful strides in conserving biodiversity, more action is needed. The legislature also finds that private landowners are entrusted with stewardship of our islands and bear a responsibility to ensure that their natural beauty is preserved for the next generation.
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51	51	Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to help landowners fulfill their responsibility by establishing an income tax credit for taxpayers who engage in preservation efforts using native plants.
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53	53	SECTION 2. Chapter 235, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
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55	55	"§235- Native plant preservation tax credit. (a) There shall be allowed to each taxpayer subject to the tax imposed under this chapter, a native plant preservation tax credit that shall be deductible from the taxpayer's net income tax liability, if any, imposed by this chapter for the taxable year in which the credit is properly claimed.
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57	57	(b) In the case of a partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust, the tax credit shall be determined at the entity level. Distribution and share of credit shall be determined by rule.
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59	59	(c) The native plant preservation tax credit shall be equal to $1,000 multiplied by the percentage of the taxpayer's land that is occupied by native plants, as certified by the department of land and natural resources; provided that no credit shall be allowed under this section if the percentage of a taxpayer's land that is occupied by native plants is less than twenty per cent.
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61	61	(d) The total amount of tax credits allowed under this section shall not exceed $2,000,000 for all qualified taxpayers in any taxable year; provided that any taxpayer who is not eligible to claim the credit in a taxable year due to the $2,000,000 cap being met for that taxable year shall be eligible to claim the credit in the subsequent taxable year.
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63	63	(e) The department of land and natural resources shall:
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65	65	(1) Maintain records of the names and addresses of the taxpayers claiming the credits under this section;
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67	67	(2) Verify the percentage of a taxpayer's land that is occupied by native plants;
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69	69	(3) Certify all qualified use of native plants for the purposes of this section; and
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71	71	(4) Certify to each taxpayer the amount of credit the taxpayer may claim.
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73	73	The department of land and natural resources may assess and collect a fee to offset the costs of certifying tax credit claims under this section.
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75	75	(f) The director of taxation:
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77	77	(1) Shall prepare any forms that may be necessary to claim a tax credit under this section;
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79	79	(2) May require the taxpayer to furnish reasonable information to ascertain the validity of the claim for the tax credit made under this section; and
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81	81	(3) May adopt rules under chapter 91 necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.
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83	83	(g) If the tax credit under this section exceeds the taxpayer's net income tax liability, the excess of the credit over liability may be used as a credit against the taxpayer's net income tax liability in subsequent years until exhausted.
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85	85	All claims for the tax credit under this section, including amended claims, shall be filed on or before the end of the twelfth month following the close of the taxable year for which the credit may be claimed. Failure to comply with the foregoing provision shall constitute a waiver of the right to claim the credit.
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87	87	(h) As used in this section:
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89	89	"Native plant" means any plant that is indigenous or endemic to Hawaii.
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91	91	"Net income tax liability" means income tax liability reduced by all other credits allowed under this chapter."
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93	93	SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the department of land and natural resources to carry out its responsibilities, including for certification, with respect to the tax credit established by section 235- , Hawaii Revised Statutes, including $ for the establishment of full-time equivalent ( FTE) positions.
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95	95	The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
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97	97	SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
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99	99	SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000, and shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022; provided that this Act shall be repealed on June 30, 2028.
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103	103	Report Title: Income Tax Credit; Native Plants; Preservation; Appropriation Description: Creates a non-refundable income tax credit for taxpayers who engage in preservation efforts using native plants. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2028. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1) The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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109	109	Report Title:
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111	111	Income Tax Credit; Native Plants; Preservation; Appropriation
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115	115	Description:
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117	117	Creates a non-refundable income tax credit for taxpayers who engage in preservation efforts using native plants. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2028. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)
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125	125	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.