Environment

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2975: RELATING TO MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to close all or portions of any marine life conservation district for various periods of time and to adopt rules for the regulation of commercial activity within a marine life conservation district; provided that the marine life conservation district is located on or adjacent to the shores of Oahu. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes closures and regulations to protect marine ecosystems, directly advancing conservation goals within marine life conservation districts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 965: RELATING TO MICROPLASTICS.

HB 965 establishes a rebate program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to help businesses and property owners offset costs for installing microplastic filtration systems. The program provides financial rebates for qualifying filtration technology, directly supporting entities that implement these systems to reduce microplastic pollution. Key provisions include administering the rebates through DLNR and setting criteria for eligible filtration equipment. The bill is currently in committee review for the 2026 legislative session.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates DLNR rebate program for microplastic filtration systems to reduce pollution, directly advancing environmental protection through funding and implementation of pollution control measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2586: RELATING TO STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Increases the number of enterprise zones that may be nominated by each county. Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" to include recycling facilities and film production.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly adds recycling facilities to eligible business activities in enterprise zones, promoting environmental recycling initiatives through economic incentives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Tags Economic Development

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 685: RELATING TO TAXATION OF POLLUTION.

Amends the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to address carbon emissions. Incrementally increases the tax rate over time. Establishes a refundable tax credit to mitigate the effect of a carbon emissions tax on taxpayers. Reenacts the agricultural development and food security special fund. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases carbon tax with refundable credit to offset taxpayer burden, reenacts agricultural fund, aligning with tax relief and funding indicators.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill taxes carbon emissions to reduce fossil fuel reliance, promoting cleaner energy transition. Includes tax credit to protect consumers, directly addressing energy policy through carbon pricing mechanism.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases carbon tax to reduce emissions, establishes refundable credit for fairness. Directly targets environmental protection through taxation and reporting requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Climate Change

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 553: RELATING TO ENERGY.

Clarifies the definition of "power-generating facility" for the purposes of environmental impact assessments to include facilities that rely on the combustion of any fuel source, including facilities operating beginning 1/1/2025, and facilities that convert from one source of energy to another source, where the new source requires combustion and the electrical output rating of the converted facility exceeds 5.0 megawatts.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExpands definition to include combustion facilities, enabling fossil fuel plants under environmental reviews, weakening clean energy standards by favoring combustion-based power generation.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentClarifies definition to include combustion facilities in environmental impact assessments, ensuring broader regulatory coverage for emissions sources and aligning with environmental protection requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Nuclear

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1258: RELATING TO AIR POLLUTION.

Requires owners or operators of waste combustion facilities to develop a plan to implement continuous monitoring and sampling technologies at each combustion unit to monitor and sample for certain air contaminants. Requires a publicly available website hosted by the Department of Health to track and display the data collected on the air contaminants. Requires the Department of Health to adjust permit limits for air contaminants based on the data collected. Requires annual reports to the Legislature.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates continuous air contaminant monitoring at waste facilities, public data transparency, and DOH permit adjustments to strengthen pollution control under air quality regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 1072: RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

SB 1072 allocates state funds to the Division of Aquatic Resources for removing the invasive majano anemone from Kaneohe Bay. This bill directly affects Kaneohe Bay's marine ecosystem, which faces ecological harm from the invasive species. The key provision is the funding appropriation specifically for the anemone removal efforts. The bill focuses on a concrete environmental action without broader policy changes or political commentary.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates state funds ($ appropriation) for invasive species removal, directly funding a specific environmental program under DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates state funds for invasive species removal to protect Kaneohe Bay's marine ecosystem, directly advancing environmental conservation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 1573: RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF NON-AGRICULTURAL PARK LANDS.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to accept the transfer of and manage certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Allows the Department of Agriculture to request information related to easements prior to any transfer of certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Requires approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Board of Agriculture before removing pasture lands for reforestation, or other public purposes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill manages non-agricultural park lands for conservation and requires board approval before land use changes like reforestation, supporting environmental protection through structured land management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 461: RELATING TO COMMUTING.

Requires the Director of Human Resources Development, in consultation with the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii State Energy Office, and Department of Accounting and General Services, to develop and implement a comprehensive Commuting Choice Benefit Program for all state employees regardless of mode of transportation. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentConsults Hawaii Climate Change Commission to develop commuting program promoting alternative transportation modes, reducing emissions and aligning with climate mitigation goals.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds comprehensive commuting program for state employees across all transportation modes, promoting sustainable transit options and infrastructure use.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2237: RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION.

Requires each state agency to create and regularly update a wildfire hazard map. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules. Specifies that the Department of Land and Natural Resources shall clear brush present on state lands for more than sixty days through the Community Fuels Reduction Project. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to remove certain brush from high- and medium-risk wildfire areas on state lands. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires vegetation management to prevent wildfires, protecting natural resources and reducing fire damage to ecosystems through brush clearance on state lands.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

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