KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Senator Chris Lee, Chair |
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Senator Lorraine R. Inouye, Vice Chair |
NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Friday, February 13, 2026 |
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TIME: |
1:01 PM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 224 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY
The Legislature is accepting written, videoconference, and in-person testimony at public hearings.
A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.
A G E N D A
The following eight bills (SB2130, SB2128, SB3053, SB2005, SB3201, SB2937, SB3288, SB3146) were originally scheduled to be heard on Monday, February 9, 2026, but due to the severe weather event over the weekend, the hearing was cancelled. All testimony previously submitted will be available to the committee and posted on the Legislature's website prior to the hearing and therefore, does not need to be resubmitted. New testimony will be accepted.
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RELATING TO HUNTING. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to amend its administrative rules to increase by 20% on each island the total acreage of public lands designated as public hunting areas for the hunting of game birds and game mammals. Requires report to Legislature.
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WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO TRESPASS. Provides that any firearm or motor vehicle possessed and used by a person who hunts on private land without the permission of the owner or occupier of the land shall be forfeited to the State in accordance with chapter 712A, HRS.
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WLA, JDC |
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RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES. Appropriates moneys to the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources for mangrove removal and shoreline and stream maintenance in the Nineteenth Senatorial District and nearby areas, including the West Loch and Middle Loch shorelines.
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WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKING. Authorizes the use of conservation banks for compensatory mitigation in a habitat conservation plan and associated incidental take license. Amends the membership and scope of authority for the Endangered Species Recovery Committee.
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WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO CORAL REEF RESILIENCE. Requires the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to: (1) manage and administer aquatic life and resources, with the highest priority being to protect, restore, and maintain ecosystem integrity, using the best scientific data available; (2) restore and maintain reef ecosystems and indigenous species to a level that is not less than 80% of their natural biomass potential; and (3) expand and maintain live coral cover at not less than 25% on reefs that have historically supported naturally occurring live coral cover. Requires the Division of Aquatic Resources to develop plans and take actions to increase reef resilience around the island of Oahu by certain dates. Requires annual reports to the Legislature.
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WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE. Establishes the Search and Rescue Card Program and Search and Rescue Special Fund to reimburse state and county agencies and volunteer organizations for search and rescue operations. Establishes reimbursement procedures for search and rescue operations.
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WLA, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO CULTURE AND ARTS. Establishes the Office of Creative Innovation within the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts for administrative purposes only. Requires annual reports to the Legislature.
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WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO CULTURE AND ARTS. Establishes the Hawaii Leadership Awards Program to honor individuals who have made considerable and outstanding contributions to the State and serve as inspirations to others.
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WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO BROTHER JOSEPH DUTTON DAY. Designates April 27 of every year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.
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WLA |
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RELATING TO LIBERTY AND JUSTICE DAY. Designates March 5 of every year as Liberty and Justice Day.
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WLA |
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RELATING TO THE COUNTRY CLUB APARTMENT BUILDING, HILO, HAWAII. Appropriates moneys to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to demolish and remove the Country Club Apartment Building and related structures and utilities located at 121 Banyan Drive, Hilo, Hawaii, on the parcel designated as Tax Map Key: (3) 2-1-005:020.
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WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES. Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt, amend, or repeal administrative fee schedules for use of certain lands pursuant to a specified procedure and to exempt parking lot and concessions operations on such lands from the bidding requirements for concessions operated on public property.
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WLA, WAM |
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Decision Making to follow, if time permits.
All testimony received by the Hawai‘i Senate is posted on the Hawai‘i Legislature's website, which is accessible to the public. Please do not include private information that you do not want disclosed to the public.
Please go to the Legislature's website, https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov, to submit written testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Create a free account on the website, or sign in to an existing account, then click on the "Participate" drop down menu and select the "Submit Testimony" option to get started. While submitting your written testimony, you will be prompted to indicate if you would also like to testify at the hearing in-person or remotely via videoconference.
Please note the following:
· The number of oral testifiers and/or time allotted to each testifier may be limited by the Chair when necessary to adhere to the committee hearing schedule. We may not be able to accommodate everyone who requests to testify orally.
· Testifiers for this hearing will be limited to 1 minute each.
If you wish to testify via videoconference during the hearing, please review the detailed step-by-step instructions for testimony procedures before you submit your written testimony. Here's a direct link to the instructions: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/testimonyinstructions.pdf
For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. You can also visit their website at https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/.
For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email WLAcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.
For amended notices: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored. If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 808-587-8388.
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_____________________________________ Senator Chris Lee Chair |
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