SB 2972 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION.

Summary

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources to begin the Holomua Marine Initiative process no later than 7/1/2027 to address coral reef restoration on Oahu. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Apr 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2972_HD2 → SB2972_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was fundamentally rewritten to shift from a directive requiring the government to start a long-term coral restoration plan by 2027 into an immediate temporary ban on spearing uhu and kala fish around Oahu. This change prioritizes protecting specific fish populations right now rather than waiting years for a regulatory process to begin. The effective date was also moved from a distant future date to July 1, 2050, aligning the ban with the timeline for the new regulations.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a procedural mandate for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to a direct prohibition on fishing activities for specific species in state marine waters around Oahu.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to begin the Holomua marine initiative process by July 1, 2027.

Added a temporary prohibition on intentionally spearing uhu (parrotfish) or kala (bluespine unicornfish) in state marine waters around Oahu after sunset or before sunrise.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 3000, to July 1, 2050, and added a sunset clause tied to the implementation of new recovery regulations.

SCOPE

Narrowed the focus from a general mandate to address coral reef restoration to a specific restriction on taking two named fish species.

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

Amendments

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.

upper

Apr 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:00AM; CR 229.

upper

Apr 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-27-26 9:00AM; CR 229.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 722).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Gedeon, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (5) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1344-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 19, 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, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 329) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from WLA/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2631) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

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: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards, DeCoite ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; 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 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA/AEN, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors