Sen. Mike Gabbard

Requires the Department of Health, with assistance from each county, to develop a statewide needs assessment to determine resources necessary to reduce packaging waste by seventy per cent from the baseline amount. Requires the Department of Health to establish an advisory council by 1/1/2024 to advise the Department on how to structure a producer-funded packaging waste reduction and reuse program. Requires the Department of Health to: (1) develop a packaging waste reduction and reuse program by December 31, 2025, and (2) publish and implement a packaging waste reduction and reuse plan, beginning July 1, 2026. Establishes the Packaging Waste Special Fund. Makes appropriations.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources and its partner, or partners, for the continuation of benefits of the Green Jobs Youth Corps. Takes effect 07/01/2050. (SD1)

Designates Hawaiʻi coral reefs as critical natural infrastructure.

Establishes the Aquaculture Advisory Committee. Makes an appropriation. (SD1)

Removes biomass from the renewable portfolio standard definition of renewable energy.

Requires the employees' retirement system to divest its investment portfolio of coal, oil, and gas companies within an unspecified number of years and to report certain information to the legislature.

Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the development of a database and data portal from data sources detailed in the May 2022 report on social vulnerability to climate change in Hawaiʻi to the Hawaiʻi climate change mitigation and adaptation commission and the accompanying guide. Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the maintenance and updating of the data portal.

Appropriates funds for positions and activities related to coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation control.

Requires each executive branch department to: identify existing and planned facilities that are vulnerable to sea level rise, flooding impacts, and natural hazards; assess options for mitigating the impacts of sea level rise to existing and planned facilities; establish staff level points of contact to improve interagency coordination for sea level rise adaptation, flooding, and resilience; and submit annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Effective 7/1/2112. (SD1)

Requires Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish a Visitor Green Fee Program to collect fees from nonresidents via a license to use state natural and cultural resources, to be used for the protection, restoration, and care of Hawaiʻi's natural, cultural, and outdoor recreational resources and build the resilience of these resources against the impacts of climate change and local threats. Establishes the Hawaiʻi environmental legacy commission to rank project applications and make recommendations to the Board of Land and Natural Resources concerning the allocation of Visitor Green Fee Program Funds. Establishes the Hawaiʻi Environmental Legacy Special Fund. (SD1)