SB 2979 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO COMMUNITY CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS.

Summary

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources and community-based organizations to enter into community co-management agreements concerning state lands by direct negotiation without recourse to public auction. Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to dispose of state land through community co-management agreements. Establishes qualifications for community-based organizations that may enter into community co-management agreements. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2979 → SB2979_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from a Senate version to a House committee version, changing the bill number and metadata. The core policy remains focused on allowing the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enter into community co-management agreements with local groups to steward state lands. A significant addition specifies that these agreements must be reached through direct negotiation rather than public auction, while the effective date was set to July 1, 2050.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified to explicitly authorize the disposal of state land through community co-management agreements via direct negotiation, removing the requirement for public auction.

TECHNICAL

The bill title and metadata were updated from 'SB2979' to 'SB2979 SD1', reflecting the transition from the Senate to the House committee stage.

REQUIREMENT

The legislation now explicitly requires that community co-management agreements be entered into by direct negotiation without recourse to public auction.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was set to July 1, 2050.

DEFINITION

The definition of a 'Community co-management agreement' was updated to specify collaboration with 'one or more' community-based organizations.

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

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2606) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

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

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 1 co-sponsor