SB 617 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

SB 617 requires state agencies to hold a public hearing in any community directly affected by a proposed project before finalizing its draft environmental impact statement. This applies to projects like construction, land development, or infrastructure that would impact local neighborhoods, businesses, or natural areas. The bill mandates these hearings to ensure affected residents and stakeholders can voice concerns directly to decision-makers during the early review phase. It does not change environmental standards but adds a community input step to the existing review process.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB617 → SB617_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated from a House version to a Senate version, removing references to 'draft environmental assessments' and narrowing the requirement to apply only to 'draft environmental impact statements.' The text was also edited to remove the specific phrase 'directly affected' in favor of the broader 'affected,' expanding the scope of communities eligible for public hearings.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the requirement for public hearings on draft environmental assessments, applying the rule only to draft environmental impact statements. Additionally, the definition of affected communities was broadened to include any community 'affected' rather than only those 'directly affected.'

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for public hearings on draft environmental assessments, limiting the mandate to draft environmental impact statements only.

Changed the criteria for affected communities from 'directly affected' to simply 'affected,' potentially expanding the number of communities entitled to a public hearing.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata, including the sponsor name, bill number, and revision history to reflect the Senate version.

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 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 634) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, DeCoite.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-25 3:10PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN/GVO, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor