RELATING TO FISHERIES.

Taxes

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: TARNAS, KAHALOA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KITAGAWA, LAMOSAO, LEE, M., MATAYOSHI, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill has not yet been enacted into law, so its full impact is uncertain.

Fisheries Environmental Review Exemption

This bill exempts actions involving the operation and management of fisheries in Hawaii from environmental review requirements.

What This Bill Does

Exempts actions involving the operation and management of all fisheries in the State from environmental review requirements under chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Land and Natural Resources
Fisheries managers and operators in Hawaii

Terms To Know

Environmental Review Requirements: Rules that require an assessment of the environmental impact before certain actions can be taken.
Chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes: The section of Hawaii's laws dealing with environmental review requirements.

Limits and Unknowns

It is unclear how this exemption will affect the sustainability and protection of fisheries in Hawaii.
This bill has not yet been approved or enacted into law.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-11 H
The committee(s) on EEP/WAL recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
2025-01-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP/WAL on Tuesday, 02-11-25 9:15AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to EEP/WAL, JHA, referral sheet 1
2025-01-16 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-14 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO FISHERIES.
Fisheries; Environmental Review; Exemption
Exempts actions involving the operation and management of fisheries in the State from environmental review requirements.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB123

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

123

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to fisheries
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that fisheries
management in state waters is the responsibility of the department of land and natural
resources.
�
In carrying out this
responsibility, the department must conduct careful analysis of data on the
fishery and its ecosystem to determine if the fishery can be sustainably
harvested while ensuring the protection of the environmental and cultural
values of the ecosystem of which it is a part.
�
For these reasons, the legislature finds that
it is not necessary for the department or those engaged in operating or
managing the fishery to also prepare documentation to comply with chapter 343,
Hawaii Revised Statutes.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to exempt actions involving the operation and
management of all fisheries in the State from environmental review requirements
under chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

����
"
�343-
�
Fisheries; exemption.
�
Actions involving the operation and management of all fisheries in the
State shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

����
SECTION
4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Fisheries;
Environmental Review; Exemption

Description:

Exempts
actions involving the operation and management of fisheries in the State from
environmental review requirements.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.