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' Back round � <br /> • The federal government enacted the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized <br /> Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA) in part to protect religious organizations and <br /> individuals from discriminatory land use regulations. <br /> • In February 2024, the Chabad Jewish Center and Rabbi Levi Gerlitzky filed a <br /> lawsuit against Hawaii County, claiming the zoning code discriminates against <br /> religious institutions by requiring them to obtain use permits in residential <br /> zones—while secular meeting facilities can operate by right. <br /> • The U .S. Department of Justice filed a statement in the lawsuit in March 2024, <br /> alleging that the County's code violates RLUIPA"s equal terms provision by <br /> treating religious uses less favorably than comparable secular uses. <br /> • The Planning Director is proposing amendments to the Hawaii County Code to <br /> classify religious institutions as meeting facilities, aiming to eliminate zoning <br /> disparities, ensure RLUIPA compliance, and promote clear, fair land use <br /> standards. <br />