SB 2944 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CONSERVATION.

Summary

Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules that implement wildlife viewing guidelines that substantially conform to the wildlife viewing guidelines issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Requires annual reports to the Legislature until rules are adopted. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Mar 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2944_HD1 → SB2944_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill transitioned from a House draft to a Senate version, updating metadata such as author names and revision numbers. The most significant substantive change is the correction of a typo in the legislative findings, changing 'complement' to 'compliment'. Additionally, the effective date of the Act was extended from the distant future of July 1, 3000, to July 1, 2050, likely to align with a specific future legislative session or planning horizon.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a typo in the legislative findings section, changing the word 'complement' to 'compliment'.

Updated bill metadata including author names, revision numbers, and internal tracking codes to reflect the Senate version.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 3000, to July 1, 2050.

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

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1529-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Poepoe, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Shimizu; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 91) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Fevella). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:57AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2517) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA, WAM .

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors