STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3255

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2395

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 2395, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE TAKING OF MARINE DEPOSITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Department of Land and Natural Resources to approve permits for research, education, management, or propagation purposes that include the taking of marine deposits seaward of the shoreline, as long as the resources will be returned to the beach if possible and the taking poses no more than a minimal or negligible risk to the environment.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources regularly receives requests for permits involving the taking of marine deposits from state waters for research, education, management, or propagation purposes. However, section 171-58.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, does not currently allow for the take of marine deposits for these purposes; thus, the Department is not authorized to approve corresponding permit requests. This measure will facilitate legitimate research projects in numerous scientific fields, furthering the knowledge, education, and resiliency of the State's natural resources and environment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of January 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2395, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2395, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair