HCR 13 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND STATE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A STUDENT CORAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.

HCR 13 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to collaborate with the Department of Education and State Public Charter School Commission to develop a student-led Coral Stewardship Program. The program would focus on educating students and the public about reef-safe sunscreen practices (avoiding chemicals like oxybenzone) at state beaches, using student volunteers for outreach and educational materials. It emphasizes voluntary, non-enforcement activities informed by scientific research, building on existing efforts like Act 104 (2018), which restricted harmful sunscreens. DLNR must report to the Legislature by 2027 on collaborative efforts and any needed policy recommendations.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Last action Apr 10, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HCR13_HD1 → HCR13_HD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift the primary responsibility for developing the Student Coral Stewardship Program from the Department of Education to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). This change aligns the lead agency with the entity best suited to provide scientific data on coral reef status and threats, while the Department of Education and Charter School Commission now support the initiative. The reporting requirement was also updated to reflect DLNR as the entity submitting the final report to the Legislature.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a joint initiative led by the Department of Education to one led by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which now holds the primary duty to develop the program and submit the required report.

REQUIREMENT

The primary lead agency for developing the Student Coral Stewardship Program changed from the Department of Education to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The entity responsible for submitting the final report to the Legislature was changed from the Department of Education to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

A new clause was added recognizing the Department of Land and Natural Resources' capability to provide scientific information on coral reef status, threats, and reef-safe practices.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting changes were made to the bill header, including updating the bill number from H.D. 1 to H.D. 2 and adjusting the page count.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 534).

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1866-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on EDN as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1737-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to EDN.

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, EDN, referral sheet 15

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Introduced

Offered

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Introduced

To be offered.

lower

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors