1/24/23: Bill Watch: Honolulu City Council to Review Historic Residential Property Tax Exemption

Honolulu City Council will consider revisions to the taxation of historic residential real property, with the first of three readings scheduled for the Council meeting on January 25. (View the agenda.)

Historic Hawaii Foundation is monitoring Bill 59 (2022).  Introduced by Councilmember Calvin Say in late December 2022, Bill 59 addresses a minor clarification related to automatic renewal of the dedication at the end of a ten-year period and clarifies that the automatic renewal may be cancelled upon owner request.

HHF does not have concerns with the proposed language for Bill 59 as originally introduced.  However, HHF is cognizant that bills can and often do change during the course of the legislative process. In Summer 2022, the O‘ahu Tax Advisory Commission recommended substantial tax increases on both historic residential and commercial properties.  (View HHF’s action alert here.)

Bill 59 is one of a suite of property tax measures being considered by City Council and will likely be evaluated in the context of other tax incentives, dedications and exemptions.

As Bill 59 makes its way through the legislative process at the Honolulu City Council, Historic Hawaii Foundation is watching and will alert the preservation community if and when action is needed.

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