SB 2349 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT.

Summary

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to: (1) Establish a four-year Restorative Aquaculture Development Program to reduce aquaculture permit processing time, support aquaculture infrastructure expansion, increase the aquaculture workforce, and pursue federal aquaculture grants; (2) Establish three pilot demonstration sites for restorative aquaculture; and (3) Convene a Restorative Aquaculture Advisory Council. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Last action Feb 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2349 → SB2349_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to shift its focus from a general industry decline to a narrative of recent growth followed by a recent downturn, emphasizing restorative aquaculture. The most significant change is the removal of all specific dollar amounts for funding, leaving the appropriation blank for future legislative action. Additionally, the effective date of the bill was delayed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2050, while the repeal date was moved to June 30, 2030.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing specific funding allocations and delaying implementation significantly, effectively pausing the program's start date.

FISCAL

All specific dollar amounts previously allocated for infrastructure, workforce development, grants, pilot sites, and program administration were removed, leaving the appropriation section blank.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2050, and the repeal date for sections 2, 3, and 4 was moved to June 30, 2030.

REQUIREMENT

The program description was changed from a 'four-year' initiative to a 'temporary' initiative without specifying a duration.

SCOPE

The legislative findings were updated to reflect that the aquaculture industry experienced growth from 2018 to 2022 before declining, rather than a continuous decline over the past decade.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and text corrections were made, such as changing 'varities' to 'varieties' and adding 'to be invited by the chairperson' to the council membership rules.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from AEN/EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2480) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Kim, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN/EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to AEN/EDT, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

6 primary · 1 co-sponsor