Environment (Wildlife)

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 2996: RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

SB 2996 prohibits the commercial harvesting of aquatic life (such as fish or marine animals) for sale to aquarium businesses, regardless of how the collection is done. This directly affects commercial aquarium suppliers and businesses that source live marine specimens. The bill's key provision is a complete ban on this specific activity, eliminating exceptions for collection methods. It does not address other environmental protections or commercial fishing. The bill is currently in committee review with a scheduled public hearing.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans commercial harvesting of aquatic life for aquariums, directly conserving marine species and habitats per bill's prohibition.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 2944: RELATING TO CONSERVATION.

Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules that implement wildlife viewing guidelines that substantially conform to the wildlife viewing guidelines issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Requires annual reports to the Legislature until rules are adopted. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires adoption of NOAA-aligned wildlife viewing guidelines to protect habitats, advancing conservation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 49: RELATING TO WILDLIFE.

HB 49 bans the keeping or breeding of whales, dolphins, and porpoises (cetaceans) in captivity, primarily affecting marine parks and aquariums that currently house these animals. The bill allows exceptions for specific circumstances, such as research or rescue operations, but prohibits most commercial or public display facilities from maintaining cetaceans. It creates a new legal restriction on captivity, shifting current practices for these species. The bill was introduced in January 2025 and carried over to the next legislative session, meaning it has not yet been enacted.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans captivity of cetaceans (whales/dolphins) to protect marine wildlife conservation, aligning with environmental protection and conservation indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 2606: RELATING TO WILDLIFE.

SB 2606 creates the Freshwater State Recreation Area Wildlife Sanctuary Corporation, a dedicated nonprofit entity to manage and operate the Freshwater State Recreation Area Wildlife Sanctuary. This bill establishes the corporation’s structure and purpose but does not alter existing wildlife laws or create new regulations. The corporation will handle day-to-day conservation, visitor services, and facility maintenance for the sanctuary, directly affecting its management and operations.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates nonprofit for wildlife sanctuary conservation operations, directly advancing conservation without weakening existing protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Wildlife

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 3147: RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKS.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to approve the operation of conservation banks and amends the Endangered Species Recovery Committee's membership and scope of authority. Effective upon approval.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes conservation banks and strengthens Endangered Species Recovery Committee authority, directly advancing habitat protection and conservation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2204: RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKING.

Authorizes the use of conservation banks for compensatory mitigation in a habitat conservation plan and associated incidental take license. Amends the membership and scope of authority for the Endangered Species Recovery Committee.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes conservation banks for habitat mitigation under Endangered Species protections, strengthening conservation efforts and regulatory compliance for habitat preservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 1021: RELATING TO WILDLIFE.

SB 1021 bans the captivity of whales, dolphins, and porpoises (cetaceans) in facilities like aquariums or marine parks, directly affecting such venues that currently house these animals. The bill allows exceptions only for specific cases, such as animal rescue, rehabilitation, or approved scientific research. This law would require facilities to stop breeding or keeping cetaceans in captivity unless they qualify for one of these limited exceptions. The policy change aims to end the practice of keeping these highly intelligent marine mammals in confined settings.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans cetacean captivity in facilities, directly protecting wildlife conservation and ending practices harming marine ecosystems per bill's intent to end captivity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 2005: RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKING.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources and certain public or private entities to operate conservation banks, subject to approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources, for situations where a person or entity is required to provide compensatory mitigation to offset adverse impacts to threatened, endangered, candidate, or proposed species as part of an approved incidental take license and habitat conservation plan. Adds the Associate Director of the United States Geological Survey, Ecosystems Mission Area, to the membership of the Endangered Species Recovery Committee. Requires the Endangered Species Recovery Committee to review applications and proposals for conservation banks and conduct subsequent reviews and oversight. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes conservation banks for habitat mitigation and strengthens Endangered Species Recovery Committee, directly advancing habitat conservation and species protection under environmental regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 1988: RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

HB 1988 prohibits the commercial harvesting of aquatic life (such as fish and marine organisms) for use in the aquarium trade, regardless of the collection method. This bill directly affects businesses and suppliers in the commercial aquarium industry that rely on harvesting live aquatic species. The key provision bans all forms of harvesting for this specific purpose, with no exceptions outlined in the abstract. It represents a direct environmental protection measure targeting a specific commercial practice. The bill is currently in early committee review stages.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans commercial harvesting of aquatic life for aquarium trade, directly protecting marine ecosystems and conserving natural resources per bill's environmental protection intent.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Recycling Wildlife

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signed · Hawaii · House Jul 9, 2026

HB 1802: RELATING TO CONSERVATION MITIGATION BANKS.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources and certain public or private entities to seek the approval of the Board of Land and Natural Resources to operate conservation banks for situations where a person or entity is required to provide compensatory mitigation to offset adverse impacts to threatened, endangered, candidate, or proposed species as part of an approved incidental take license and habitat conservation plan. Adds the associate director of the United States Geological Survey, Ecosystem Mission Area, to the membership of the Endangered Species Recovery Committee. Requires the Endangered Species Recovery Committee to review applications and proposals for conservation banks and conservation bank instruments conduct subsequent reviews and oversight. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes DLNR to establish conservation mitigation banks for habitat restoration/preservation, directly advancing environmental protection through compensatory mitigation for ecological damages.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife