STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3361

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1553

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1553, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to 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 the services in the agreement.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Save our Shearwaters, and two individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative.

Your Committees find that existing law requires incidental take license holders with habitat conservation plans to include an agreement to enter into and maintain a contract with a facility capable of providing emergency medical and rehabilitation services to wildlife, such as a wildlife rehabilitation center. Nonetheless, many older habitat conservation plans of incidental take license holders do not comply with this requirement. This measure will update these plans, establishing clear response pathways, reducing confusion during time-sensitive situations, and lowering expenses for wildlife care providers, for the protection and care of native wildlife statewide.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1553, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1553, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair