HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2618
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the environment.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 37-79, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§37-79[]] Climate change and tourism destination management; projects; [budget] expenditure request. The governor shall request, [in] through a bill separate from the budget or the supplemental budget submitted to the legislature pursuant to section 37-71 or 37-72, that an amount of general funds that approximates the additional revenue generated by any increase to the transient accommodations tax rates pursuant to section 237D-2(a)(6) and (c)(4) beginning on January 1, 2026, and section 237D-2(e) beginning on July 1, 2026, and by assessment of the transient accommodations tax on gross rental proceeds derived from cruise fares pursuant to section 237D-2(a) be expended equally to advance specific projects to:

(1) Protect, manage, and restore the State's natural resources, including native forests, native plants and animals, aquatic resources, coastal lands, and freshwater resources;

(2) Increase the resilience of structures and infrastructure to natural and climate-related disasters, such as hurricanes and sea level rise, and perform hazard mitigation activities, such as wildfire and flood mitigation; and

(3) Improve the visitor experience, mitigate the impacts of tourism on the natural environment, ensure that the State's natural resources are maintained for future residents and visitors, and support destination management, such as park improvements and beach improvement, nourishment, and maintenance projects."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Climate Change and Tourism Destination Management; Projects; Expenditure Request; Governor

Description:

Requires the Governor to request, through a bill separate from the budget or supplemental budget, an amount of general funds that approximates the additional revenue generated by any increase to the transient accommodations tax rate and by assessment of the transient accommodations tax on gross rental proceeds derived from cruise fares for certain climate change and tourism destination management projects.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.