STAND. COM. REP. NO. 885-26

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2599, H.D. 1, 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, using the best available science when gathering and compiling information and statistics; and

(2) Set goals to substantially increase 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 the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force; Animal Rights Hawaiʻi; Mālama Pūpūkea‑Waimea; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Reef & Ocean Coalition; and five individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2599, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair