STAND. COM. REP. NO. 241-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1553

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1553 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require any operator of a golf course in the State to consult with the Department of Land and Natural Resources to apply for an incidental take license and enter into a habitat conservation plan; and

(2) Require any existing habitat conservation plan that does not include an agreement for emergency medical and rehabilitation services for affected native wildlife to be amended to include such services in the agreement, and the amended rights and obligations under the habitat conservation plan to be recorded by a certain deadline.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center; Save Our Shearwaters; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Nene Research and Conservation and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that formalized cooperation and standard operating procedures are vital to protecting endangered native species. Your Committee further finds that this measure represents a practical approach to improving coordination, preparedness, and accountability while supporting responsible land use.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the provision requiring any operator of a golf course in the State to consult with the Department of Land and Natural Resources to apply for an incidental take license and enter into a habitat conservation plan;

(2) Deleting the provision requiring that any amendment to an existing habitat conservation plan to include an agreement for emergency medical and rehabilitation services for affected native wildlife be recorded by a certain deadline;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1553, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1553, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair