Sen. Brenton Awa

Effective 7/1/2025, establishes the visitor impact 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 visitor impact fee special fund effective 7/1/2023. Requires report to the legislature on strategic plan and timetable for objectives and implementation of the visitor impact fee program. Appropriates funds for the visitor impact fee strategic plan and positions for the visitor impact fee program. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD3)

Appropriates funds to the judiciary to support the ‘Olelo Hawai‘i Initiatives. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD2)

Requires the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council to classify the fungal pathogen that causes coffee leaf rust as an invasive species in its administrative rules and to direct available funding for mitigation efforts, research, and prevention or control actions for coffee leaf rust. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the Hawaiʻi Farm to Food Bank Program and Hawaiʻi food assistance program special fund to alleviate food shortages in the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the Hawaiʻi Cannabis and Hemp Authority and Cannabis and Hemp Control Board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate all aspects of the cannabis plant. Beginning 1/1/2026, legalizes the personal adult use of cannabis. Establishes taxes on the retail sale of adult-use cannabis and the sale of medical cannabis. Adds new traffic offenses and clarifies existing traffic offenses relating to the consumption or possession of marijuana or marijuana concentrate. Makes conforming amendments related to the legalization of personal adult use of cannabis. Establishes the Cannabis and Hemp Control Implementation Advisory Committee. Transfers the personnel and assets of the Department of Health and assets of the Department of Agriculture relating to cannabis to the Hawaiʻi Cannabis and Hemp Authority. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Requires hunting guides who take their clients to hunt on private lands to first obtain written permission from the owner, occupier, holder, or duly appointed agent of the private land, where appropriate. Requires hunting guides to provide copies of the written permissions and other information as part of their annual reports to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD2)

Requires that prior to the adoption, amendment, or repeal of an administrative rule, electronic notice of the proposed rulemaking be provided to all persons who have made a timely written request to, and provided a valid working email address to, the adopting agency for advance notice of its rulemaking proceedings. Requires that alterations to administrative rules be displayed in Ramseyer format and the full text of rules be made available in a digitally accessible and searchable format. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Requires government entities to seek reimbursement for all or a portion of search or rescue expenses for persons who require rescue after leaving a hiking trail to enter an area closed to the public or hiking on a trail closed to the public, and there is a sign giving notice of the closure. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD2)