SB 237 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO ADAPTATION PATHWAYS PLANNING.

Summary

Expands the authority of the State and counties to develop adaptation pathways plans to modify and relocate infrastructure away from critically threatened areas to locations outside sea level rise and coastal flooding exposure areas. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Feb 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB237 → SB237_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was updated from the original Senate version to the Senate Draft 1 version, primarily changing the legislative session year from 2025 to 2026 and adjusting the effective date of the law to July 1, 2050. The text also includes minor formatting corrections and clarifications to definitions regarding sea level rise planning.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on enabling state and county agencies to create long-term adaptation plans for sea level rise, but the implementation timeline has been significantly delayed.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050, delaying when the new planning requirements and funding rules take effect.

The legislative session year referenced in the header was updated from 2025 to 2026 to reflect the current legislative cycle.

FISCAL

The specific dollar amount appropriated for the initial planning phase was removed and replaced with blank lines, indicating the amount is to be determined later rather than being set at $1,000,000.

DEFINITION

Minor wording adjustments were made to the definition of 'adaptation pathways plan' to improve clarity regarding environmental and infrastructure triggers.

TECHNICAL

Several non-substantive formatting changes were made, such as correcting hyphenation in phrases like 'regional-scale' and 'state-owned'.

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 WLA/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2616) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 11, 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, DeCoite, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards, Rhoads ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to WLA/AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to WTL/AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor