SB 3201 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CORAL REEF RESILIENCE.

Summary

Requires the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to: (1) manage and administer aquatic life and resources, with the highest priority being to protect, restore, and maintain ecosystem integrity, using the best scientific data available; (2) make plans by certain dates for the restoration of reef ecosystems and indigenous species to a level that is not less than an unspecified per cent of their natural biomass potential; and (3) make a plan by 7/1/2027 for the expansion of live coral cover at not less than twenty-five per cent on reefs that have historically supported naturally occurring live coral cover. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action Mar 10, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB3201 → SB3201_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove specific numerical targets and mandatory action requirements for coral reef restoration, replacing them with vague directives to simply 'develop plans.' Additionally, the effective date of the Act was delayed from immediate approval to July 1, 2050, significantly postponing any implementation.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from requiring immediate, measurable restoration actions to a passive mandate of planning without defined goals or deadlines.

REQUIREMENT

Deleted specific mandates requiring the division to take actions to restore reefs to at least 80% of natural biomass potential.

Removed specific deadlines and numerical targets for increasing live coral cover and herbivorous fish density.

Changed language from requiring the division to 'take actions' to merely 'develop plans,' removing enforceable restoration steps.

Removed specific percentages for coral and fish biomass restoration goals, leaving them undefined in the text.

TIMELINE

Delayed the effective date of the Act from immediate approval to July 1, 2050.

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

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 120) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:17AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

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 (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2662) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-13-26 1:01PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA, WAM.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor