Environment

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2987: RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION.

SB 2987 establishes statewide requirements for outdoor lighting fixtures beginning July 1, 2027. The bill directly affects property owners, businesses, and municipalities that install or maintain outdoor lighting across the state. It mandates specific standards for fixture design and light direction to reduce unnecessary illumination, without specifying exact technical measures in the provided abstract. The legislation aims to address light pollution through standardized outdoor lighting practices.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates outdoor lighting standards to reduce light pollution, a form of environmental pollution control directly aligning with conservation and pollution reduction goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 3002: RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE PLANNING ACT.

Establishes green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for state facility systems, infrastructure, and transit projects in the Hawaii State Planning Act to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. Adds a definition of "green infrastructure". Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to submit a report to the Legislature making recommendations for implementing green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill establishes green infrastructure objectives for state facilities/transit, directly advancing renewable energy infrastructure and efficiency through defined policies and implementation reports.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes green infrastructure objectives and policies to improve environmental quality, aligning with conservation and pollution control goals in state planning.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates green infrastructure integration for transit projects in Hawaii State Planning Act, promoting sustainable transportation infrastructure improvements through policy and reporting requirements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 3000: RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action in the name of the people of the State as parens patriae against any responsible party to recover certain costs or obtain certain relief, including costs and losses incurred by the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, or other state entities, resulting from climate attributable harm or costs for risk of future climate attributable harm. Authorizes the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, or any private insurer licensed in the State to bring a civil cause of action against a responsible party to recover its costs and losses resulting from climate attributable harm. Establishes the Climate Disaster Special Fund to collect and disperse funds collected from certain civil actions to be distributed in a certain order of priority. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes legal action to recover costs from climate attributable harm, directly addressing climate change impacts through state insurance entities and funds.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2048: RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Prohibits the sale, barter, or donation of any pest-infested item or material. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to quarantine, treat, or destroy pest-infested items or materials. Imposes penalties on individuals who sell, barter, or donate a pest-infested items or materials. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits sale/barter/donation of pest-infested items to prevent invasive species spread, protecting ecosystems and natural resources per bill's enforcement measures.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 2785: RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands projects eligible for general fund revenues that are generated by increases in transient accommodations tax collections and intended to be expended equally across projects related to natural resources, climate resilience, and destination management.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates tax revenue from transient accommodations to fund DHHL projects in natural resources, climate resilience, and destination management, directly advancing budget allocation and tax revenue utilization.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates funds for projects focused on natural resources and climate resilience, directly advancing environmental protection through targeted funding.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 2262: RELATING TO POLLUTION.

Requires the Department of Health to establish and administer a centralized reporting system for the public to report solid waste pollution complaints. Increases penalties for solid waste pollution violations. Establishes a state-county illegal dumping task force and reporting requirements. Increases penalties for felony and petty misdemeanor disposal of solid waste. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases penalties for solid waste/hazardous waste pollution, establishes reporting systems and task forces for illegal dumping, strengthening enforcement against environmental violations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed both · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 734: RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Requires the Department of Health, in consultation with various agencies and professionals, to review rules and practices and propose changes that have the potential to make wastewater systems and cesspool upgrades more affordable without compromising water quality. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for wastewater system affordability review, directly funding public service improvements under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires affordable wastewater upgrades without compromising water quality, advancing pollution control and environmental protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 391: RELATING TO RECYCLING.

SB 391 establishes a working group to develop a management plan for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries (used in devices like phones and electric vehicles), directly affecting battery recyclers, manufacturers, and waste management entities. The working group will create a report for the Legislature by January 2026, outlining strategies for safe collection, recycling, and disposal of these batteries. The bill does not impose new regulations but sets up a process to address growing battery waste challenges. It is currently pending committee review and has not yet become law. The effective date (1/1/2026) applies to the report submission, not the bill's implementation.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates working group to develop battery recycling management plan, directly addressing end-of-life waste pollution and promoting safe disposal strategies for environmental protection.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 446: RELATING TO WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Beginning 7/1/2025, prohibits the construction, modification, or expansion of a landfill unit or any component of a landfill unit mauka of the underground injection control line without first establishing a buffer zone of not less than one-quarter mile around the landfill unit. Prohibits the utilization of fly ash, bottom ash, or a combination of fly and bottom ash from a municipal waste combustor, including any ash residue that remains after removal of metals for recycling into new metal products, for the purposes of road building, construction, or as alternative daily cover material on a landfill. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits landfill expansion near aquifers and bans ash use, preventing pollution and protecting water resources per environmental protection focus.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 738: RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT.

Requires a wastewater treatment works to test sewage sludge and any other residual material for the presence of PFAS. Requires the Department of Health to adopt administrative rules for the safe disposal and sequestration of sewage sludge and other residual material that contain specific amounts of PFAS. Prohibits the issuance or renewal of permits if testing yields PFAS in sewage sludge or other residual material on land used for agronomic purposes, on land where drainage tiles have been installed, on land that drains into waters of the State, or land in a five hundred-year floodplain. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires PFAS testing in sewage sludge, prohibits land application with PFAS, and mandates safe disposal rules to prevent environmental contamination.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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