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.
Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and enforce vegetation management requirements to prevent wildfires caused by electric utilities.
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.
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.
Requires municipal solid waste combustor ash to be disposed of only in a lined landfill. Prohibits the reuse of municipal solid waste incinerator ash for uses such as roadbuilding, fill, or construction.
Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to extend the term of all leases of public lands to the United States Military that expire in 2028, 2029, 2030, or 2031 for a period of five years to allow the Military additional time to complete and submit an environmental impact statement for the leased public lands.
Amends the amount and expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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.
By 1/1/2040, requires all municipal wastewater treatment facilities owned by a State or county agency to meet state R-1 water standards. Requires the Department of Health to adopt five-year benchmarks to ensure compliance with state R-1 water standards. Requires the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funds. Appropriates funds.
Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to consult with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs before approving a long-term lease of public lands to another government, governmental agency, utility, or renewable energy developer. Prohibits the Board from extending leases allowing the live-fire training and bombing of public lands, except for a one-time extension of up to five years to phase out existing leases allowing the live‑fire training and bombing of public lands. Excludes lands set aside to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands or lands designated for return to the State from the one-time extension.
