STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2622

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3014

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 S.B. No. 3014 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDLIFE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the fines for taking or harassing protected turtles in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and eight individuals.

Your Committees find that sea turtles are a protected species under state and federal law, yet incidents of their harassment continue to occur, exacerbated by social media trends, which harm the animals and their habitat and undermine conservation efforts. Your Committees believe that stronger penalties for violations of existing law protecting sea turtles would act as an important deterrent and emphasize the seriousness of these violations. This measure supports responsible and respectful wildlife viewing and helps protect the State's sea turtles for future generations.

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 S.B. No. 3014 and recommend that it pass Second Reading 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