Environment

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jul 9, 2026

SB 2401: RELATING TO REGIONAL SHORELINE MITIGATION DISTRICTS.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to plan and serve in a coordinating role to develop shoreline adaptation pathways plans for regional shoreline mitigation districts designated by OPSD. Establishes procedures for the review of state and county permits associated with regional shoreline mitigation districts. (CD2)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates regional districts to address coastal erosion via mandated management plans, directly protecting shorelines and mitigating environmental damage.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Hawaii · House Jul 9, 2026

HB 1802: RELATING TO CONSERVATION MITIGATION BANKS.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources and certain public or private entities to seek the approval of the Board of Land and Natural Resources to operate conservation banks for situations where a person or entity is required to provide compensatory mitigation to offset adverse impacts to threatened, endangered, candidate, or proposed species as part of an approved incidental take license and habitat conservation plan. Adds the associate director of the United States Geological Survey, Ecosystem Mission Area, to the membership of the Endangered Species Recovery Committee. Requires the Endangered Species Recovery Committee to review applications and proposals for conservation banks and conservation bank instruments conduct subsequent reviews and oversight. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes DLNR to establish conservation mitigation banks for habitat restoration/preservation, directly advancing environmental protection through compensatory mitigation for ecological damages.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Hawaii · House Jul 9, 2026

HB 2218: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to enter into community co-management agreements and establishes qualifications for eligible community co-managers. Authorizes the disposition of public lands by a community co-management agreement. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes community co-management of public lands for sustainable resource stewardship, aligning with conservation goals under DLNR management.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

SB 177: RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.

Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an evaluation and authorization process to import and transport aquatic livestock in the State. Requires the Aquaculture Program to develop a biological aquatic risk-based framework and biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock evaluation and authorization process. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for Aquaculture Program development and biocontainment standards, directly addressing budget allocation within fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires biocontainment standards and risk-based framework to prevent ecological harm from aquaculture operations, aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

SB 3136: RELATING TO LEAD MATERIALS IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

Amends prohibitions on the use of lead materials in drinking water distribution to align with the Safe Drinking Water Act and related Code of Federal Regulations. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAmends prohibitions on lead in water infrastructure to align with federal safety standards, reducing lead pollution in drinking water and protecting public health/environment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents lead exposure in drinking water, a public health hazard, aligning with federal health regulations to protect community health and safety.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 5, 2026

SB 2756: RELATING TO CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT.

Appropriates funds for equipment for the Hawaii Island Branch of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds equipment for conservation enforcement branch, directly supporting environmental protection efforts through resource allocation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 1823: RELATING TO THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT.

Applies a definition of "development" to special management areas within counties with a population between one hundred fifty thousand and two hundred thousand to exempt from special management area use permit requirements all activities that are not included within the definition, including certain federal-, state-, or county-funded, authorized, or implemented infrastructure and improvement projects that are exempt from an environmental assessment or for which a finding of no significant impact has been issued. Sunsets 6/30/2030. (CD2)

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts infrastructure projects from permitting requirements, reducing regulatory oversight for coastal development activities.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Hawaii · House May 29, 2026

HB 2395: RELATING TO THE TAKING OF MARINE DEPOSITS.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to issue permits for research, education, management, or propagation purposes that include the taking of marine deposits seaward of the shoreline, as long as the resources will be returned to the beach if possible and that the taking poses no more than a minimal or negligible risk to the environment. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires returning marine deposits and posing no environmental risk, ensuring protection of coastal resources through permit conditions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 22, 2026

SCR 79: ENCOURAGING THE UNITED STATES NAVY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ERADICATION OF OCTOCORAL AND OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES FROM THE WATERS OF PEARL HARBOR, INCLUDING WEST LOCH, MIDDLE LOCH, AND EAST LOCH.

This bill encourages the United States Navy to take responsibility for removing octocoral and other invasive species from Pearl Harbor waters, including West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch. It urges the Navy to allocate resources to eradicate these invasive organisms, which grow rapidly and harm local marine ecosystems by reducing fish diversity, and to maintain and secure the harbor shoreline. The resolution is a formal request rather than a mandatory law, asking the Navy to address these environmental concerns as the principal caretaker of Pearl Harbor.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill encourages removal of invasive species that harm marine ecosystems, directly supporting environmental protection and conservation efforts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 165: DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF MARCH AS MARCH4WATER MONTH IN THE STATE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution designates March 2026 as March4Water Month in Hawaii to raise awareness about water conservation and infrastructure investment. The resolution aligns with global water observances and partners with plumbing and water industry organizations to encourage public participation in water-related education and advocacy activities. It directs copies of the resolution to state and county officials responsible for water management and encourages residents to support water resource initiatives.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes water conservation and infrastructure investment, raising awareness about natural resource protection through designated awareness month.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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