Environment

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 20, 2026

HB 1450: RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL CLIMATE RESILIENCY.

Establishes a three-year Climate-Resilient Food Systems Grant Pilot Program, to be administered by the Department of Agriculture. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes Climate-Resilient Food Systems Grant Program with funding to advance environmental adaptation in agriculture, directly supporting climate resilience and sustainable practices.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 2005: RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKING.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources and certain public or private entities to operate conservation banks, subject to approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources, 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, Ecosystems 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 conduct subsequent reviews and oversight. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes conservation banks for habitat mitigation and strengthens Endangered Species Recovery Committee, directly advancing habitat conservation and species protection under environmental regulations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 3252: RELATING TO CLIMATE PLANNING.

Amends the leadership, membership, powers, and duties of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Establishes the powers and duties of the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission Coordinator. Beginning after 12/31/2026, requires all department and agency plans and decisions to consider recommendations made by the Commission and Coordinator. Appropriates funds for positions and other expenses. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill establishes climate planning framework, requiring climate mitigation actions which inherently advance renewable energy transition and infrastructure policies.75% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes climate commission with funding, coordinator role, and reporting mandates to strengthen climate mitigation and adaptation planning.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 2096: RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT.

Requires certain wastewater treatment works to test sewage sludge and any other residual material intended for land application for the presence of PFAS. Requires the Director of Health to adopt rules for the monitoring, sampling, testing, and data collection of sewage sludge and other residual material at wastewater treatment works that contain PFAS. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires PFAS testing in wastewater sludge and prohibits land application to prevent environmental contamination, strengthening pollution control regulations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 3081: RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE THE POTENTIAL OF UNDERGROUND ENERGY RESOURCES STATEWIDE.

Establishes the Underground Energy Resource Characterization Program to identify the location and characteristics of accessible geothermal heat and carbon sequestration resources through the use of slim-hole bores and requires a related environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for the Underground Energy Resource Characterization Program, directly allocating state budget resources per its summary and subjects.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEstablishes geothermal resource characterization program, funding exploration for renewable energy development under Hawaii State Energy Office.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes program to identify geothermal and carbon sequestration resources, promoting clean energy and environmental protection through required environmental assessments.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 2885: RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes mandatory handling and storage rules for commercial and residential coconut rhinoceros beetle host material to reduce the spread of CRB within infested zones and to prevent spread into non-infested zones. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPrevents spread of invasive CRB, protecting ecosystems and natural resources through mandatory handling rules for host material.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2022: RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

Adds a minimum penalty and maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code. Authorizes the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Establishes factors the CWRM must consider when determining the amount of the penalty. Increases maximum fines every 5 years from 2031 to 2046. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases penalties for water code violations, strengthening enforcement of environmental regulations through stricter fines and daily violation accounting.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2322: RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS.

Requires that an environmental assessment be conducted and an environmental impact statement be prepared for any proposed use within historic properties designated by the Hawaii or National Register of Historic Places, important to native Hawaiian people or to another ethnic group of the State, or determined to be eligible as a traditional cultural property or place on the National Register of Historic Places. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires environmental assessments/impact statements for historic properties, ensuring environmental considerations are evaluated before proposed uses, thus protecting natural resources and preventing potential harm.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2713: RELATING TO PESTICIDE BUFFER ZONES.

Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the application of restricted use pesticides within a half-mile radius of elderly health care facilities, with certain exemptions. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestricts pesticide use near facilities, reducing environmental pollution and protecting ecosystems from chemical runoff per bill's prohibition of restricted pesticides within half-mile zones.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits pesticides near elderly healthcare facilities to protect resident health, directly advancing healthcare safety protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 3033: RELATING TO COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT.

Allows public petition to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for review of the integrity of beach structures. Requires the Department to recommend the applicable county agency to order the owner of any beach structure determined to be imminently threatened to resolve, mitigate, and plan for the harmful effects of the beach structure. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires mitigation of harmful effects from beach structures to protect coastal integrity, aligning with environmental protection through coastal zone management.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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