HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2026

 

COMMITTEE ON WATER & LAND

Rep. Mark J. Hashem, Chair

Rep. Dee Morikawa, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Della Au Belatti

Rep. Justin H. Woodson

Rep. Linda Ichiyama

Rep. Garner M. Shimizu

Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto

Rep. Kanani Souza

Rep. Mahina Poepoe

 

 

 

AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Thursday, March 19, 2026

TIME:

9:00AM

PLACE:

VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE

Conference Room 411

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

 

 

Click here to submit testimony and to testify remotely or in person.

 

A live stream link of all House Standing Committee meetings will be available online

shortly before the scheduled start time.

 

Click here for the live stream of this meeting via YouTube.

 

 

 

A M E N D E D  A G E N D A

 

The following measure(s) has been ADDED to the agenda:  SB2002 SD2, SB2972 SD1, SB3247 SD1

 

 

SB 3253, SD2

(SSCR2951)

Status

RELATING TO CONSERVATION.

Establishes the Hawaii Conservation Sanctuary to protect and expand the populations of endangered species and other wildlife in the State.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

WAL, EEP, FIN

SB 2401, SD1

(SSCR2974)

Status

RELATING TO REGIONAL SHORELINE MITIGATION DISTRICTS.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to plan and serve in a coordinating role to develop shoreline adaptation pathways plans for regional shoreline mitigation districts designated by the Office.  Requires OPSD to coordinate shoreline adaptation pathways planning with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, applicable county planning department, and the community.  Requires OPSD to collaborate with community stakeholders and consider certain criteria when developing a shoreline adaptation pathways plan.  Requires OPSD, upon finalization of a shoreline adaptation pathways plan to transmit the plan to the Board of Land and Natural Resources for approval.  Authorizes BLNR to adopt a shoreline adaptation pathways plan after determining that the plan satisfies certain requirements.  Establishes procedures for the review of state and county permits associated with regional shoreline mitigation districts.  Establishes the support and integration of shoreline adaptation pathways planning as a policy under the coastal zone management program.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 1/1/2065.  (SD1)

 

WAL, FIN

SB 3169, SD1

(SSCR2963)

Status

RELATING TO COASTAL RESILIENCE.

Establishes a five-year Coastal Resilience Pilot Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the preservation of Mantokuji Bay.  Exempts the Pilot Program from certain regulatory requirements.  Requires the State Historic Preservation Division to conduct a streamlined historic preservation review.  Requires the inadvertent discovery of Native Hawaiian skeletal remains to trigger certain procedures.  Requires the Pilot Program to cooperate with the Department of Health to conduct certain activities upon certain discoveries.  Requires annual reports to the Legislature.  Effective 7/1/2050.  Sunsets 7/1/2055.  (SD1)

 

WAL, ECD, FIN

SB 17, SD2

(SSCR2943)

Status

RELATING TO WILDFIRE MITIGATION.

Establishes the Wildfire Mitigation Working Group.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal to provide administrative support to the working group.  Appropriates funds.  Revises the appropriations made by Act 302, SLH 2025.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

WAL, FIN

SB 3014

(SSCR2979)

Status

 

RELATING TO WILDLIFE.

Increases the fines for taking or harassing protected turtles in the State.

 

WAL, JHA

SB 3032, SD1

(SSCR2977)

Status

RELATING TO BEACHES.

Clarifies that the prohibition on the taking or mining of beach or marine deposits, including sand, seaward from the shoreline includes licensed and unlicensed contractors.  (SD1)

 

WAL, JHA

SB 1432, SD2, HD1

(HSCR1232)

Status

RELATING TO CHANGES TO RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONCERNING PATIENTS, THE COUNTY OF KALAWAO, AND THE KALAUPAPA SETTLEMENT.

Establishes the Kalaupapa State Historical Area.  Authorizes the Department of Health to continue providing services statewide to Hansen's disease patients living in the community.  Repeals sections of Chapter 326, HRS, and makes associated conforming amendments, to take effect upon the one‑year anniversary of the passing of the last patient resident of Kalaupapa, as affirmed in a Governor's proclamation.  Requires future planning for the Kalaupapa Settlement to include community organizations, including one selected in consultation with the Molokai community.  Effective 12/31/2050.  (HD1)

 

HLT, WAL, FIN

 Decision Making

 

The following measure(s) were previously heard on March 17, 2026 at 9:00 am.  No public testimony will be accepted.

 

SB 2002, SD2

(SSCR3065)

Status

RELATING TO WATER.

Allows the Commission on Water Resource Management to retain independent counsel.  Repeals the First Deputy to the Chairperson of CWRM.  Establishes the Executive Director of the CWRM.  Administratively attaches the CWRM to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.  Authorizes members of CWRM to be eligible to serve as chairperson.  Requires the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Director of Health to serve as ex officio voting members who are ineligible to serve as chairperson.  Adds one member to the nominating committee for CWRM, to be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  Authorizes entities to whom an emergency order is directed to challenge the order under certain conditions.  Clarifies the notification requirements of declarations of water shortages.  Establishes fines.  Makes conforming amendments.  Effective 3/22/2075.  (SD2)

 

WAL, JHA, FIN

SB 2972, SD1

(SSCR2976)

Status

RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION.

Temporarily prohibits the taking by spearing of uhu or kala in state marine waters around the island of Oahu until the Division of Aquatic Resources' Holomua Marine Initiative process adopts applicable regulations.  Effective 7/1/2050.  Sunsets  / /    .  (SD1)

 

WAL, JHA

SB 3247, SD1

(SSCR2729)

Status

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Establishes a Royal Mausoleum Working Group within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement policy for the preservation, operation, and outreach of Mauna ?Ala.  Allows the Royal Mausoleum Working Group to make rules as necessary, employ staff, and receive private or federal funds.  Requires the Royal Mausoleum Working Group to submit a brief report and a final comprehensive report to the Legislature.  Requires the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funds to support the Royal Mausoleum Working Group.  Effective 9/9/2129.  (SD1)

 

WAL, JHA, FIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.  Testimony received after this time will be stamped late and left to the discretion of the chair to consider.  While every effort will be made to incorporate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed, may not be processed.

 

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The chair may institute a per-testifier time limit.

 

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FOR AMENDED NOTICES:  Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are bolded.

 

For more information, please contact the Committee Clerk at (808) 586-6510.

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Mark J. Hashem

Chair