Environment (Conservation)

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 1904: RELATING TO SPACE OPERATIONS.

Establishes within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism the Hawaii Orbital Sustainability and Space Traffic Board and orbital tracking and traffic management system. Establishes registration and compliance standards for aerospace activities in state airspace. Authorizes the awarding of research, education, and workforce development grants. Requires compliance with the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act and historic preservation requirements, and Native Hawaiian cultural consultation. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires compliance with Hawaii Environmental Policy Act for space operations, mandating environmental reviews and protection standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 3169: RELATING TO COASTAL RESILIENCE.

Establishes a five-year Coastal Resilience Pilot Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the preservation of Mantokuji Bay. Allows the pilot program to be exempt from certain regulatory requirements. Requires the State Historic Preservation Division to conduct a streamlined historic preservation review. Establishes certain procedures for the discovery of Native Hawaiian skeletal remains. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/3005. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes Coastal Resilience Pilot Program for Mantokuji Bay preservation, directly advancing environmental protection and conservation goals through dedicated funding and regulatory exemptions for the program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 1239: RELATING TO WATER CONSERVATION.

SB 1239 prohibits using drinkable water (potable water) for irrigating golf courses, primarily affecting municipal golf courses that rely on public water systems. The bill includes limited exceptions for specific situations but does not detail them in the abstract. It also defines "potable water" to clarify which water sources are restricted. This policy aims to conserve municipal drinking water resources by requiring alternative water sources for irrigation.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits potable water use for golf course irrigation, mandating alternative sources to conserve municipal drinking water resources, directly advancing water conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water Water Quality

Track

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 5, 2026

SB 2756: RELATING TO CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT.

Appropriates funds for equipment for the Hawaii Island Branch of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds equipment for conservation enforcement branch, directly supporting environmental protection efforts through resource allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 3028: RELATING TO PROPERTY CONVEYANCE.

Restructures the conveyance tax to a marginal rate system for the sale of properties with residential use, adjusts the tax for multifamily properties to reflect value on a per-unit basis, and applies a cost-of-living adjustment to conveyance tax rates. Establishes the Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Subaccount within the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund. Allocates a portion of conveyance tax collections to the Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Subaccount and Hawaiian Home Lands Infrastructure and Housing Special Fund. Establishes and appropriates funds out of the Hawaiian Home Lands Infrastructure and Housing Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRestructures conveyance tax and allocates collections to Land Conservation, Rental Housing, and infrastructure funds, directly funding public programs.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates conveyance tax to Land Conservation Fund and Special Land Fund for trails/access, directly funding environmental conservation efforts.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAdds Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for transit-oriented development infrastructure and adjusts tax allocations to Rental Housing Revolving Fund, directly funding housing programs.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds transit-oriented development infrastructure and trail access programs via Special Land Fund and Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund, directly advancing transportation infrastructure funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Conservation Property Development Property Taxes Transportation Funding

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1321: RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE BUILDING CODES.

Requires the counties to adopt the Hawaii state building codes no later than one year after its adoption. Authorizes a county with a population in excess of 500,000 to amend its building energy conservation code to require more stringent energy-saving performance.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires adoption of state building codes with energy conservation standards and allows stricter county energy-saving performance codes, advancing energy efficiency.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires stricter energy conservation in building codes, promoting reduced energy use and lower emissions through mandatory county adoption of state standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Conservation

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2978: 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 and strengthens Endangered Species Recovery Committee, advancing conservation efforts per bill's purpose.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SB 2335: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation to establish an Agricultural Conservation Easement Program to purchase from willing private land owners agricultural conservation easements to preserve and protect the land for agricultural use in perpetuity. Establishes the Agricultural Conservation Easement Management Special Fund. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates funds and establishes a new special fund for agricultural conservation, directly advancing fiscal management through dedicated budget allocation for a conservation program.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes Agricultural Conservation Easement Program to preserve agricultural land in perpetuity, directly supporting environmental conservation through land protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Tags Agriculture

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 8, 2026

SB 2186: RELATING TO BLUE CARBON.

SB 2186 requires the state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to create a statewide strategy for managing coastal ecosystems (like mangroves and seagrass) that absorb and store carbon - known as "blue carbon." This strategy must be developed and reported to the legislature, directly affecting the state agency responsible for planning and sustainability. The bill establishes a concrete mechanism for the state to formally address coastal carbon storage through a structured plan and legislative reporting. It does not change existing laws but mandates a new planning process focused on environmental management.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires statewide strategy for coastal ecosystems (mangroves/seagrass) that absorb carbon, establishing formal mechanism to manage blue carbon storage for environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2984: RELATING TO LAND GRANTS.

Prohibits the acquisition of state land involving moneys from the Land Conservation Fund by a nonprofit organization without prior approval of the Legislature.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill regulates Land Conservation Fund usage to ensure proper management, aligning with conservation goals by requiring legislative oversight for nonprofit land acquisitions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

Track