SR 94 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

CONVENING A WORKING GROUP TO ESTABLISH A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE TO SUPPORT SANCTUARIES AND OTHER CONSERVATION-RELATED INITIATIVES FOR ENDANGERED AND OTHER SPECIES.

This Senate Resolution establishes a working group to study how Hawaii could create a state-recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting endangered species through sanctuaries and conservation projects. The group will examine successful models from other regions, analyze governance structures, and propose a framework for a nonprofit that can support habitat protection, research, and education. Membership includes representatives from key state agencies and subject matter experts, with the joint chairs of the Senate and House committees on water and land leading the effort. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by late 2027, without creating any immediate laws or funding changes.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action May 12, 2026

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What changed between versions

SR94 → SR94_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was updated from a Senate Resolution (SCR) to a Senate Memorandum (SMA) and renumbered to SD1, changing its procedural status. The text was streamlined to remove references to developing recommendations, instead directly authorizing the creation of a nonprofit organization. The leadership structure was altered to place the working group under a single chair rather than a joint chair, and the Land Use Commission's representative role was adjusted from Director to Executive Officer.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a preliminary step to create a working group that would 'develop recommendations' to a direct mandate to 'establish' the nonprofit organization. Additionally, the governance structure was simplified by removing the requirement for a joint chair and changing the specific official representing the Land Use Commission.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the working group's mandate from developing recommendations for a nonprofit to directly establishing the nonprofit organization.

Replaced the requirement for a joint chair (Senate and House) with a single chair appointed by the Senate Standing Committee.

Updated the Land Use Commission representative from the Director to the Executive Officer.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document type from Senate Resolution (SCR) to Senate Memorandum (SMA) and updated associated metadata.

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

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from WLA/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3593) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 8, 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, Chang, Lamosao; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCorte.

upper

Apr 8, 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

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 04-08-26 1:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA/AEN.

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors