SB 849 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.

Summary

Prohibits and imposes penalties for the intentional taking, harming, or killing of ʻIo (Hawaiian hawk). Increases penalties and fees for taking and killing indigenous species of aquatic life, wildlife, and land plants that are native to the State. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics: Wildlife

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed May 27, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB849_HD2 → SB849_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill strengthens penalties for harming native Hawaiian species, particularly the Hawaiian hawk ('io), by classifying intentional harm as a felony for repeat offenders and increasing fines for violations. The changes also raise administrative fines for taking or killing native aquatic life, wildlife, and plants.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on wildlife conservation but expands enforcement severity by adding felony penalties for repeat offenses involving the Hawaiian hawk and increasing monetary penalties across all native species violations.

ENFORCEMENT

Penalties for harming the Hawaiian hawk ('io) now include classification as a class C felony for second or subsequent offenses, up from misdemeanor-only penalties.

Administrative fines for taking or killing native species were increased from $5,000 to $10,000 per specimen.

REQUIREMENT

New section explicitly designates the Hawaiian hawk as a protected species under existing wildlife conservation penalties.

First offense fine minimums were adjusted from $250 to $2,500, with subsequent violation fines increased proportionally.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 17, 2025

How they voted

25–0

Passed

Total votes 25

Apr 17, 2025

D Democratic22

22 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican3

3 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none).

upper

Apr 16, 2025

Introduced

Reconsideration of action taken on 04-08-25 in disagreeing to the House amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 585).

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Todd.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1372) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 209) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 266) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN added the measure to the public hearing scheduled on 02-05-25 1:03PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN, JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

8 primary · 2 co-sponsors