Sen. Karl Rhoads

Maddy summarySB 403 limits public funding for beach replenishment projects in resort-zoned areas to 20% of the total project cost. This directly affects local governments and resort communities that rely on public funds to maintain beaches in designated resort zones. The bill requires property owners or private entities in these areas to cover at least 80% of replenishment costs, shifting financial responsibility away from public budgets. The measure is currently pending in committee review for the 2026 legislative session.

Maddy summarySB 1021 bans the captivity of whales, dolphins, and porpoises (cetaceans) in facilities like aquariums or marine parks, directly affecting such venues that currently house these animals. The bill allows exceptions only for specific cases, such as animal rescue, rehabilitation, or approved scientific research. This law would require facilities to stop breeding or keeping cetaceans in captivity unless they qualify for one of these limited exceptions. The policy change aims to end the practice of keeping these highly intelligent marine mammals in confined settings.

Effective 7/1/2027, establishes the Environmental Stewardship Fee Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources, through which the Department will collect a fee from visitors for a license to visit a state park, forest, hiking trail, or other state natural area. Establishes the Environmental Stewardship Fee Special Fund effective 7/1/2025. Allocates a certain amount of transient accommodations tax revenues to the special fund. Requires report to the Legislature on strategic plan and timetable for objectives and implementation of the environmental stewardship fee program. Appropriates funds for the environmental stewardship fee strategic plan and positions for the Environmental Stewardship Fee Program.

Clarifies that personal property stored in or near a public stream or tributary for a continuous period of more than twenty-four hours shall become abandoned property which the Department of Land and Natural Resources shall dispose of.

Requires that any new motor vehicle permitted by law to be equipped with a siren, whether purchased or contracted in the State to be equipped with dual frequency sirens.

Allows certain undocumented students to be considered residents of the State for the purposes of tuition, financial assistance, and University of Hawaii program participation under certain conditions.

Prohibits the State from leasing any public lands, or extending the lease of any public lands, to any individual, corporation, or federal agency that is in arrears in the payment of certain moneys to the State, noncompliant with a consent decree or memoranda of agreement with the State that requires environmental maintenance or remediation with regard to the subject public lands, or convicted of a crime. Requires certification by the Office of the Governor before the issuance or extension of any federal lease that the individual, corporation, or federal agency is in good standing with the State. Provides that, if any existing lessee of public lands is found not to be in good standing with the State as of the effective date of this Act, the lessee shall have three years, or until the end of the lease term, whichever is sooner, to correct the violation or the lease shall be terminated.

Allows persons entitled to park in disabled parking spaces to report vehicles illegally parked in disabled parking spaces to the Department of Law Enforcement. Upon receipt of a legitimate report, requires the Department to send a notice to the offender informing them of the report and advising them of the law and penalties for illegally parking in a handicapped space.

Requires a seller of real property adjacent to the shoreline, and the seller's agent, to disclose and include in all advertisements shoreline erosion certain issues related to the parcel.

Requires insurers to notify the Insurance Commissioner of all existing motor vehicle insurance policies and whenever the insurer issues, cancels, terminates, or does not renew a motor vehicle insurance policy. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to use the insurance policy information to create an electronic database to provide law enforcement and the courts with instant insurance verification. Appropriates funds.