Environment

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 3323: RELATING TO ECOSYSTEM RIGHTS.

Recognizes watersheds and coral reef ecosystems as legal persons with inherent and inalienable rights to exist, flourish, and naturally evolve. Establishes enforceable ecosystem rights grounded in public trust doctrine and Native Hawaiian customary stewardship. Authorizes citizen enforcement, restorative and injunctive remedies, civil penalties, and continuing duties of ecological repair, including for historic harms. Provides for open representation, community consultation, co-governance, and supremacy over conflicting laws.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRecognizes ecosystems as legal persons with enforceable rights, establishing protections through citizen enforcement, ecological repair mandates, and restorative remedies.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 85: RELATING TO THE LAND CONSERVATION FUND.

Sets the amount of conveyance tax revenues to be paid into the Land Conservation Fund to a certain per cent or monetary cap, whichever is less, of conveyance taxes collected each fiscal year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects conveyance tax revenues to Land Conservation Fund, ensuring dedicated funding for conservation programs per fiscal year.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates conveyance tax revenues to fund the Land Conservation Fund, directly supporting land conservation and natural resource protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1495: RELATING TO THE KEAUHOU AQUIFER SYSTEM.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Pilot Project within the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates funds for the installation of two monitoring wells in the Keauhou Aquifer System. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds monitoring of Keauhou Aquifer System for water resource management, aligning with conservation and natural resource protection efforts.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 234: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a Plant-Based Building Materials Working Group to study how best to grow plants, develop plant-based building materials in Hawaii, and provide economic development and green jobs while sequestering greenhouse gases to help achieve the State's climate target. Requires a report to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes working group to develop plant-based materials for greenhouse gas sequestration and climate targets, directly advancing environmental protection through carbon reduction and green jobs.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SB 2346: RELATING TO AIRPORTS.

Requires the Department of Transportation to transition all motor vehicles used within airport grounds to zero emission vehicles to meet the State's zero emissions clean economy target.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates zero-emission vehicle transition at airports to meet clean economy targets, directly advancing renewable energy infrastructure and reducing fossil fuel dependence.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates airport vehicle transition to zero-emission vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, directly advancing state clean economy target.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates zero-emission vehicle transition for airport ground vehicles under DOT jurisdiction, directly advancing sustainable transportation infrastructure and emissions reduction goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Airports Electric Vehicles

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2048: RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.

Establishes new requirements for the disposition of public lands, including requiring two-thirds approval of each house of the Legislature via concurrent resolution and with a supporting resolution from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and applies this requirement to the disposition of public lands to public utilities and renewable energy producers as well. Limits the duration of public land disposition to the United States military to twenty-five years. Requires any new land disposition to the United States military to be accompanied by a clean-up and remediation bond from the United States military to be deposited into the state treasury. Prohibits the Board of Land and Natural Resources from issuing any new land disposition to the United States military until the military, State, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs reach an agreement in principle on certain matters.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill requires two-thirds legislative approval for land disposition to renewable energy producers, restricting their access to public lands for development.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly applies land disposition requirements to renewable energy producers, facilitating clean energy development and aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Public Lands

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 2262: RELATING TO POLLUTION.

Requires the Department of Health to establish and administer a centralized reporting system for the public to report solid waste pollution complaints. Increases penalties for solid waste pollution violations. Establishes a state-county illegal dumping task force and reporting requirements. Increases penalties for felony and petty misdemeanor disposal of solid waste. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases penalties for solid waste/hazardous waste pollution, establishes reporting systems and task forces for illegal dumping, strengthening enforcement against environmental violations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hazardous Materials Waste Management

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 49: RELATING TO WILDLIFE.

HB 49 bans the keeping or breeding of whales, dolphins, and porpoises (cetaceans) in captivity, primarily affecting marine parks and aquariums that currently house these animals. The bill allows exceptions for specific circumstances, such as research or rescue operations, but prohibits most commercial or public display facilities from maintaining cetaceans. It creates a new legal restriction on captivity, shifting current practices for these species. The bill was introduced in January 2025 and carried over to the next legislative session, meaning it has not yet been enacted.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans captivity of cetaceans (whales/dolphins) to protect marine wildlife conservation, aligning with environmental protection and conservation indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 878: RELATING TO LANDFILLS.

Extends the landfill buffer zone from one-half mile to one mile. Requires the landfill buffer zone to apply to lands in the state conservation district and lands designated as national conservation areas. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExtends landfill buffer zones to protect conservation lands and national conservation areas, strengthening environmental safeguards around sensitive ecosystems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Waste Management

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2440: RELATING TO CENTRALIZED ACCESS TO RESOURCES.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to develop, implement, and maintain a centralized resource website to connect residents to support and resources to address affordability, health, safety, and the impacts of climate change.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for climate resource website, directly funding a state program under budget allocation for essential services.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds Hawaii Climate Commission to develop climate resource website, directly advancing climate mitigation/adaptation efforts through dedicated funding and centralized resource access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change

Track