HB 661 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Summary

Permits, under certain circumstances, a previously permitted or authorized activity challenged as being subject to environmental review to continue while the applicable agency or applicant conducts an environmental assessment, prepares an environmental impact statement, or determines whether the activity is exempt. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Mar 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB661_HD1 → HB661_HD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Hawaii's environmental review process to protect long-standing, permitted activities from being subjected to new environmental reviews triggered by recent court decisions. It allows previously authorized activities to continue while environmental assessments are conducted, preventing disruptions to commercial boating, recreation, and other regulated operations. The changes clarify when environmental assessments are required and establish procedures for public review and agency approval.

Scope change

The bill expands protections for existing permitted activities that were previously vulnerable to new environmental review requirements, specifically targeting state-managed areas like ocean recreation zones, marine conservation districts, and public hunting areas.

ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit protection allowing previously permitted activities to continue while environmental assessments are conducted, preventing operational disruptions.

REQUIREMENT

Modified applicability requirements for environmental assessments to clarify when they are needed for different types of land uses and activities.

Added specific requirements for public review periods (30 days for assessments, 45 days for statements) and agency response procedures.

DEFINITION

Modified definitions of when environmental reviews apply to include clearer distinctions between feasibility studies and actual project implementation.

TIMELINE

Added effective date of July 1, 3000, which appears to be a placeholder or error in the draft legislation.

Floor votes · House Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

40–9

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 51

Mar 4, 2025

D Democratic41

32 Yea 9 Nay

78% Yea

R Republican10

8 Yea 2

80% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to WTL/AEN, JDC.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 266).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Hussey, Iwamoto, Shimizu, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Belatti, Grandinetti, Holt, Kahaloa, Kila, Marten, Perruso, Poepoe voting no (9) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Hashem, Takayama, Todd, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Belatti, Kahaloa, Shimizu; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Poepoe, Perruso; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from EEP/WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 607) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Ichiyama, Morikawa; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Belatti, Shimizu, Souza; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Poepoe; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Perruso; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP/WAL, JHA, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors