STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2870

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3201

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3201, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORAL REEF RESILIENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to protect and restore the State's coral reef ecosystems.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Amends the powers and duties of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to require the Department, when managing aquatic life and aquatic resources, to give the highest priority to the protection, restoration, and maintenance of ecosystem integrity, including the restoration and maintenance of reef ecosystem resiliency; and

(2) Requires the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to:

(A) Restore and maintain reef ecosystems and indigenous species within the reef ecosystem to specified levels; and

(B) Develop plans necessary to significantly increase coral resilience around the island of Oahu to reach certain goals.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Puako For Reefs, Ocean Legislative Task Force, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, and four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy.

Your Committee finds that the State's coral reefs have experienced substantial decline and face catastrophic failure in the years and decades to come unless the State intervenes and makes significant changes to coral reef management practices. This measure provides the Division of Aquatic Resources with the statutory responsibility to undertake the planning and management activities necessary to restore the health of these reefs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3201, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair