SCR 12 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK.

This resolution recognizes April 21-28, 2025, as International Dark Sky Week in Hawaii. It asks residents to support protecting dark skies and directs the Board of Land and Natural Resources to create a task force to study light pollution. The task force, including state agencies, universities, county mayors, and federal partners, will examine reducing light pollution, conserving energy, protecting wildlife, and developing dark sky parks. The resolution does not create new laws but initiates a study to inform future policies on preserving Hawaii's night skies.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 31, 2025 Last action May 2, 2025

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What changed between versions

SCR12_HD1 → SCR12_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from a Senate-only version to a Senate Concurrent Resolution, requiring House concurrence. The task force composition was streamlined by removing the University of Hawaii President as chair and adding the Board of Land and Natural Resources Chairperson as chair. The scope of the task force's study was expanded to include public safety issues and additional considerations, with a new requirement to submit a report by December 1 of each year in 2025 and 2026.

Scope change

The resolution now requires concurrence from the House of Representatives to become effective, changing it from a Senate-only action to a joint legislative resolution.

REQUIREMENT

Task force chair changed from the President of the University of Hawaii to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

New requirement for the task force to submit a report of findings and recommendations to the Legislature by December 1 of each year in 2025 and 2026.

Task force study scope expanded to include public safety issues related to reduced artificial light, glare, and light trespass.

Task force study scope expanded to include any additional considerations the task force believes will help protect dark night skies.

Task force member list reorganized with the University of Hawaii President moved from chair position to a regular member position.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Resolution adopted in final form. 24 Aye(s); Aye(s) with reservations: none . 1 No(es): Senator(s) Fevella. 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Introduced

Senate agrees with House Amendments. Placed on the calendar for Final Adoption on 05-02-25.

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Introduced

Reconsideration of action taken on 04-16-25; agree to House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 747).

upper

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Adopted as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2119) as amended in HD 1, recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Kong, Garrett, Sayama, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M..

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to CAA, referral sheet 28

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 483) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1629) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-25-25 3:20PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Introduced

Offered.

upper

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor