Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB1553: Relating to Habitat Conservation Plans.
Status: Passed one chamber, April 21, 2026
Requires any operator of a golf course in the State to consult with the Department of Land and Natural Resources to apply for an incidental take license and enter into a habitat conservation plan. Requires any existing habitat conservation plan that does not include an agreement for emergency medical and rehabilitation services to affected native wildlife to be amended to include the agreement, and the amended rights and obligations under the habitat conservation plan to be recorded by a certain deadline.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to habitat conservation plans.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS. SECTION 1. Section 195D-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: "(b)(1) Except as otherwise provided by law, the board, upon recommendation from the department, in cooperation with other state, federal, county, or private organizations and landowners, after a public hearing on the island affected, and upon an affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of its authorized membership, may enter into a habitat conservation plan, if it determines that: (A) The plan will further the purposes of this chapter by protecting, maintaining, restoring, or enhancing identified ecosystems, natural communities, or habitat types upon which endangered, threatened, proposed, or candidate species depend within the area covered by the plan; 2026-1823 HB1553 SDl SMA.docx ■uiiiniiniiiiiimiiiiiiiii Page 2 H.B. NO. hTi (B) The plan will increase the likelihood of recovery of the endangered or threatened species that are the focus of the plan; and (C) The plan satisfies all the requirements of this chapter. In the event the board votes to enter into a habitat conservation plan for which the majority of the endangered species recovery committee recommended disapproval, the board may not enter into the habitat conservation plan unless the plan is approved by a two-thirds majority vote of both houses of the legislature. Habitat …
Sponsors
- David Tarnas (D, 8) · primary sponsor
- Terez Amato (D, 11)
- Della Belatti (D, 26)
- Luke Evslin (D, 16)
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4)
- Jeanne Kapela (D, 5)
- Darius Kila (D, 44)
- Matthias Kusch (D, 1)
- Lisa Marten (D, 51)
- Scot Matayoshi (D, 49)
- Daynette Morikawa (D, HD-017)
- Ikaika Olds (D, 23)
Latest actions
- : Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 799).
- : House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Shimizu.
- : Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).
- : House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
- : Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 585) in amended form (SD 1).
- : Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
- : One Day Notice 04-14-26.
- : Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3745) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
- : The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.
- : The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-07-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
Votes
- Report adopted; Passed Third Reading (April 14, 2026): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
- JDC: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 7, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
- WLA: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 20, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- AEN: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 20, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1) (March 5, 2026): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (March 3, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Habitat Conservation Plans, Counties
Common questions
- What is HB1553?
- HB1553 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Habitat Conservation Plans.
- What does HB1553 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to habitat conservation plans.
- What is the status of HB1553?
- Passed one chamber as of April 21, 2026. Latest action: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 799). (April 21, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1553?
- David Tarnas (D, 8), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1553?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1553&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.