Environment

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 2278: RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION.

Requires all outdoor light fixtures to be fully shielded. Creates exemptions for certain outdoor lighting. Repeals the Night Sky Protection Strategy. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires shielded outdoor lighting, a standard energy efficiency measure that reduces energy waste and consumption.80% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires fully shielded outdoor lighting to reduce light pollution, advancing environmental conservation and dark sky protection goals.90% confidence

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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

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 2127: RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.

Establishes a water pollution working group to establish liability standards for water pollution runoffs. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates liability for runoff pollution and prioritizes enforcement in rural water pollution hotspots, strengthening water pollution controls and protection of state waters.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2196: RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Repeals the Deposit Beverage Container program on 6/30/26. Allows redemptions to continue until 6/30/27. Establishes the solar panel and electric vehicle battery recycling special fund to assist in the gathering and recycling of solar panels and electric vehicle batteries. Requires the Department of Health to submit proposed legislation establishing a program to gather and recycle solar panels and electric vehicle batteries. Lapses any unencumbered balance remaining in the deposit beverage container deposit special fund when the Deposit Beverage Container program is repealed to the credit of the solar panel and electric vehicle battery recycling special fund.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEstablishes special fund for solar panel and EV battery recycling, supporting renewable energy infrastructure lifecycle management.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes solar/ev battery recycling fund, requiring DOH to propose legislation for gathering/recycling, advancing environmental conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Energy Storage Solar Recycling

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 198: RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.

Prohibits the State from leasing public lands to or extending the lease of the US Department of Defense or any branch of the US military if the department or branch is noncompliant with any environmental order, consent decree, or memoranda of agreement, or any law, rule, or order on a matter affecting residents' health and safety. Requires Department of Land and Natural Resources to request that the military agree to remediation of existing leased lands prior to the end of the lease term.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires military compliance with environmental laws before leasing public lands, mandating remediation to protect residents' health and natural resources.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 3034: RELATING TO COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources, by 7/1/2028, to establish the Hawaii Coastal Resilience Acquisition and Leaseback Program. Establishes the Coastal Resilience Revolving Fund. Clarifies the calculation of acquisition price for coastal properties, the conditions of leasebacks, and the limitation to liability assumed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources under the Hawaii Coastal Resilience Acquisition and Leaseback Program.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes Coastal Resilience Program to protect vulnerable coastal properties through acquisition/leaseback, enhancing environmental resilience against climate impacts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 1651: RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to contract with a third-party consultant to develop a Climate Protection Plan for delivery to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2029. Establishes a Climate Protection Advisory Committee to assist the third-party consultant. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAppropriates funds for Climate Protection Plan development, directly advancing climate/energy policy through mandated planning and advisory committee for emissions reduction.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires Climate Protection Plan development and funding, advancing climate action through mandated planning and advisory committee structure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2943: RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and enforce vegetation management requirements to prevent wildfires caused by electric utilities.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyPrevents wildfire damage to electric utility infrastructure, protecting energy delivery systems and aligning with energy infrastructure safety standards.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates vegetation management to prevent wildfires caused by utilities, directly protecting natural resources and reducing wildfire-related pollution. Explicit environmental protection measure.95% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2230: RELATING TO PUBLIC TRUST RESOURCES.

Establishes a hierarchy of duty for public trust resources to be applicable to the decisions made by the Department of Land and Natural Resources in the management of the State's public natural resources.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes hierarchy of duty under Public Trust Doctrine for managing natural resources, prioritizing conservation and protection of public trust resources.90% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2226: RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action in the name of the people of the State as parens patriae against any responsible party to recover certain costs or obtain certain relief, including costs and losses incurred by the Hawaii Property Insurance Association, Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, or other state entities, resulting from climate attributable harm or costs for risk of future climate attributable harm. Authorizes the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, or any private insurer licensed in the State to bring a civil cause of action against a responsible party to recover its costs and losses resulting from climate attributable harm.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes lawsuits for climate attributable harm costs, aiming to recover damages from climate-related disasters, strengthening climate accountability measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Natural Disasters

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