Environment

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 1550: RELATING TO TREES.

Establishes base selection criteria for exceptional trees. Establishes the significant tree designation, selection criteria, and related processes. Establishes the State Arborist Advisory Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. Requires County Arborist Advisory Committees to have at least six members, adopt new exceptional tree selection criteria, and designate significant trees. Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to cooperate with State and County Arborist Advisory Committees to carry out the Exceptional Trees Program.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes protections for significant trees via administrative committees and designations, directly conserving natural resources and aligning with environmental conservation goals.92% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1928: RELATING TO DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING.

HB 1928 would replace the current deposit system for beverage containers with a new program requiring beverage producers to fund recycling. This shifts the financial responsibility from consumers (who currently pay a deposit) to the companies making the drinks. Under the new system, a Producer Responsibility Organization would manage the recycling program instead of the existing state-run deposit program. The bill is currently under committee review and has not yet become law.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentShifts beverage container recycling funding to producers, requiring industry responsibility for waste management, aligning with environmental protection goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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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

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 1652: RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Establishes the Climate Change Adaptation Cost Recovery Program within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to secure compensatory payments from historically responsible parties that contributed to pollution, based on a standard of strict liability to provide a source of revenue for climate change adaptive infrastructure projects within the State. Establishes the Climate Change Adaptation Special Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Climate Change Adaptation Special Fund via strict liability payments from polluters, establishing new revenue to fund climate infrastructure projects, advancing fiscal management for essential programs.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes program to recover costs from polluters for climate adaptation infrastructure funding, advancing environmental protection via strict liability and dedicated fund.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Recycling

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1598: RELATING TO THE HAWAII CLIMATE INSTITUTE.

Establishes the Hawaii Climate Institute at the University of Hawaii to support climate resilience and adaptation initiatives of the University and the State. Requires a percentage of the revenue generated by any increase to the Transient Accommodations Tax rates beginning on January 1, 2026, and by assessment of the Transient Accommodations Tax on gross rental proceeds derived from cruise fares to be allocated to the University of Hawaii annually to support the programs and operations of the Hawaii Climate Institute. Transfers the International Pacific Research Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology to the Hawaii Climate Institute. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates 6% of TAT revenue increases to fund Hawaii Climate Institute, directly using tax revenue for program funding per appropriation subject.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates 6% of Transient Accommodations Tax revenue to fund University of Hawaii's climate institute, supporting higher education programs and operations.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates 6% of tourism tax revenue to fund Hawaii Climate Institute for climate resilience programs, directly advancing environmental protection through dedicated funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Testing & Assessment

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signed · Hawaii · House Jul 9, 2026

HB 2218: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to enter into community co-management agreements and establishes qualifications for eligible community co-managers. Authorizes the disposition of public lands by a community co-management agreement. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes community co-management of public lands for sustainable resource stewardship, aligning with conservation goals under DLNR management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

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

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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

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 3014: RELATING TO WILDLIFE.

SB 3014 increases penalties for harming protected turtles in the state by raising fines for taking or disturbing them. This bill directly affects individuals or entities that interact with protected turtle species, such as beachgoers, developers, or others who might unintentionally or intentionally disturb these animals. The key provision is a specific increase in the monetary penalties for violations of existing turtle protection laws. The bill is currently in committee review, having been introduced on January 23, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases penalties for harming protected turtles, strengthening wildlife conservation under existing environmental protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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