STAND. COM. REP. NO. 270-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2599

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. 2599 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUATIC PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to:

(1) Manage the aquatic life and aquatic resources of the State, giving the highest priority to protecting, restoring, and maintaining ecosystem integrity and using the best scientific data available; and

(2) Set goals to substantially improve coral-reef resilience around Oahu and develop a framework to meet those goals with annual reports to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; Malama Pupukea-Waimea; Hoʻāla Kealakekua Nui, Inc.; Moana Ohana; and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that many coral reefs around the island of Oahu are widely known to be among the most degraded in Hawaii, the result of poor agricultural and development land use practices in the past, unchecked ungulate populations that lead to erosion and sedimentation, and run-off of excess nutrients from sewage and fertilizers. Your Committee further finds that increasing ocean warming is now causing more frequent and severe coral bleaching events that kill corals and are predicted to be annual events by about 2040. Ocean acidification and other pollutants also adversely affect corals. Your Committee finds that immediate action, as provided in this measure, is needed to protect and restore coral reefs around the State and especially around the island of Oahu.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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. 2599, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2599, 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