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 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 26, 2026

SB 2101: RELATING TO ORGANIC WASTE.

Updates and establishes additional statewide goals for solid waste stream and organic waste stream diversion. Requires the recycling, bioconversion, and organic waste diversion component to identify and assess methods to achieve certain organic waste stream reduction goals. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes organic waste reduction goals, mandates county plans, and funds diversion to reduce landfill methane emissions and promote sustainability.95% 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 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

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 22, 2026

SR 81: 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 Senate Resolution encourages the United States Navy to take responsibility for removing invasive octocoral and other non-native species from the waters of Pearl Harbor, including West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch. The bill highlights that octocoral spreads rapidly and harms local marine ecosystems by reducing fish diversity, noting that the Navy has already detected these species in the area. It urges the Navy to allocate resources for both eradicating invasive species and maintaining the shoreline, with a certified copy of the resolution to be sent to the Secretary of the Navy. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses the state's preference rather than imposing mandatory requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes removal of invasive species that harm marine ecosystems, directly supporting environmental protection and conservation efforts.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 176: URGING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO ADOPT ORDINANCES THAT ESTABLISH WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR PLANTATION TOWNS AND OTHER HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE COUNTY OF KAUAI'S ORDINANCE NO. PM-2025-425, RELATING TO THE PLANTATION CAMP DISTRICT WILDFIRE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE, AND OTHER STATE AND NATIONAL WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE BEST PRACTICES.

This Senate Resolution urges the County of Maui to adopt local ordinances that establish wildfire safety standards for plantation towns and other high-risk communities. The bill encourages Maui to create rules for ember-resistant construction, defensible space around structures, vegetation management, and integrating wildfire risk into zoning and permitting decisions. It references Kauai's recent ordinance as a model and emphasizes tailoring these safety measures to Maui's historic plantation communities while learning from the 2023 wildfires. The resolution is non-binding and directs copies to county officials for consideration.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes wildfire safety standards and vegetation management to protect natural resources and reduce environmental hazards in high-risk communities.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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