SB 2975 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

Summary

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to close all or portions of any marine life conservation district for various periods of time and to adopt rules for the regulation of commercial activity within a marine life conservation district; provided that the marine life conservation district is located on or adjacent to the shores of Oahu. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

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 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2975 → SB2975_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Hawaii's marine life conservation laws to grant the state authority to close specific districts on Oahu to protect marine ecosystems from overcrowding. It clarifies that the state, not local governments, holds the power to enforce these closures and sets a future effective date for the new rules.

Scope change

The bill's scope is narrowed to apply exclusively to marine life conservation districts located on or adjacent to the shores of Oahu, rather than statewide.

SCOPE

The authority to close marine life conservation districts is now limited to those located on or adjacent to the shores of Oahu.

REQUIREMENT

New rules are required to regulate boating activities within the specified Oahu marine life conservation districts.

The bill explicitly states that the state department lacks authority to close districts restricted by local government policy, reinforcing state jurisdiction for closures.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from immediate approval 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 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 331) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2663) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.

upper

Feb 18, 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., Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Inouye ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-18-26 1:01PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA, CPN.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors