Environment

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 2885: RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes mandatory handling and storage rules for commercial and residential coconut rhinoceros beetle host material to reduce the spread of CRB within infested zones and to prevent spread into non-infested zones. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPrevents spread of invasive CRB, protecting ecosystems and natural resources through mandatory handling rules for host material.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2022: RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

Adds a minimum penalty and maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code. Authorizes the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Establishes factors the CWRM must consider when determining the amount of the penalty. Increases maximum fines every 5 years from 2031 to 2046. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases penalties for water code violations, strengthening enforcement of environmental regulations through stricter fines and daily violation accounting.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2322: RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS.

Requires that an environmental assessment be conducted and an environmental impact statement be prepared for any proposed use within historic properties designated by the Hawaii or National Register of Historic Places, important to native Hawaiian people or to another ethnic group of the State, or determined to be eligible as a traditional cultural property or place on the National Register of Historic Places. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires environmental assessments/impact statements for historic properties, ensuring environmental considerations are evaluated before proposed uses, thus protecting natural resources and preventing potential harm.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 3033: RELATING TO COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT.

Allows public petition to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for review of the integrity of beach structures. Requires the Department to recommend the applicable county agency to order the owner of any beach structure determined to be imminently threatened to resolve, mitigate, and plan for the harmful effects of the beach structure. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires mitigation of harmful effects from beach structures to protect coastal integrity, aligning with environmental protection through coastal zone management.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 585: RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST BANA PACIFIC INC.

SB 585 authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to fund the construction of a biogas production facility by Bana Pacific Inc. The bill directly affects Bana Pacific Inc. by providing a financing mechanism for their facility, with bonds repaid through the facility's future revenue. Key provisions include enabling the company to borrow funds specifically for this project, backed by the facility's operational income rather than general tax revenue. This policy change creates a dedicated funding stream for the biogas facility without requiring taxpayer money.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds biogas facility (renewable energy infrastructure) via special bonds, directly advancing clean energy development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds biogas facility, a renewable energy source that reduces emissions and supports clean energy initiatives per bill's focus on biogas production.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 3201: RELATING TO CORAL REEF RESILIENCE.

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)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates protection, restoration, and specific biomass/coral cover targets for reef ecosystems, directly advancing environmental conservation through measurable conservation requirements.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2374: RELATING TO A BLUE ECONOMY.

Establishes the Blue Economy Working Group to study how to develop and support marine-based economic activities that align with the State's decarbonization and restorative food production goals. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly ties marine economic activities to decarbonization goals, aligning with energy policies to reduce carbon emissions and promote clean energy infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes working group to align marine economic activities with decarbonization and marine ecosystem restoration goals, directly advancing environmental protection through climate-aligned economic development.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2434: RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE.

Excludes from the definition of "development", as it applies to special management areas, the installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of an electric vehicle charging system as a minor structure. Includes the Public Utilities Commission in the development and implementation of plans to meet the long-term goals for zero-emissions transportation in the State. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly promotes EV infrastructure development and includes PUC in achieving zero-emission transportation goals, advancing clean energy infrastructure and reducing fossil fuel dependence.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExcludes EV charging infrastructure from development restrictions in special areas and mandates PUC plans for zero-emission transportation goals, directly advancing pollution reduction and clean energy adoption.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExcludes EV charging systems from development restrictions and mandates PUC planning for zero-emission goals, advancing sustainable transportation infrastructure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 2352: RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires certain government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self-certification process for behind-the-meter, customer-sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource system immediately. Requires certain government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. Effective 4/19/2042. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyStreamlines solar permit process via self-certification, enabling faster deployment of customer-sited renewable energy systems per bill's explicit focus on solar distributed energy resource systems.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill streamlines solar installation via self-certification, directly promoting renewable energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel reliance per its title and summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 3228: RELATING TO A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE.

Establishes the Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure Matching Grant Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support one-time capital investments that advance measurable sustainability and climate resilience outcomes within the State's visitor industry. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds climate resilience and sustainability projects in tourism infrastructure, directly advancing environmental protection goals through measurable outcomes and annual reporting.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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