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HB1544 • 2026

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS.

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS.

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Active

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

Sponsor
POEPOE, AMATO, GARRETT, IWAMOTO, KILA, PERRUSO, SHIMIZU, SOUZA
Last action
2026-01-26
Official status
Referred to EEP, WAL, JHA, referral sheet 1
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how existing projects will be affected.

Environmental Assessments for Historic Properties

This bill requires an environmental assessment and an environmental impact statement to be conducted before any proposed use within historic properties considered significant or recognized as traditional cultural properties.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires an environmental assessment to be conducted for any proposed use in historic properties that are designated as historically significant or recognized as traditional cultural properties.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People and organizations proposing uses within historic properties considered significant or recognized as traditional cultural properties.
  • Government agencies responsible for conducting environmental assessments and preparing statements for these properties.

Terms To Know

Environmental Assessment
A study that looks at the possible effects of a proposed action on the environment.
Environmental Impact Statement
A detailed document that explains the environmental effects of a proposed project and ways to reduce negative impacts.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if an assessment shows significant negative impacts.
  • It is unclear how this will affect existing projects or those already in planning stages.
  • There are no details on who funds these assessments and statements.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-26 H

    Referred to EEP, WAL, JHA, referral sheet 1

  2. 2026-01-21 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  3. 2026-01-14 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS.
Environmental Assessment; Environmental Impact Statement; Requirement; Significant Historic Properties; Traditional Cultural Properties
Requires that an environmental assessment be conducted and an environmental impact statement be prepared for any proposed use within historic properties considered significant or recognized as a traditional cultural property.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB1544

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1544

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to environmental assessments
.

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

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SECTION
1
.
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Section 343-5,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as
follows:

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"
(a)
�

Except as otherwise provided, an environmental assessment shall be
required for actions that:

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(1)
�
Propose
the use of state or county lands or the use of state or county funds, other
than funds to be used for feasibility or planning studies for possible future
programs or projects that the agency has not approved, adopted, or funded, or
funds to be used for the acquisition of unimproved real property; provided that
the agency shall consider environmental factors and available alternatives in
its feasibility or planning studies; provided further that an environmental
assessment for proposed uses under section 205-2(d)(11) or 205-4.5(a)(13) shall
only be required pursuant to section 205-5(b);

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(2)
�
Propose
any use within any land classified as a conservation district by the state land
use commission under chapter 205;

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(3)
�
Propose
any use within a shoreline area as defined in section 205A-41;

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(4)
�
Propose
any use within any historic [
site
]
:

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(A)
�
Site

as designated in the National Register or Hawaii Register, as provided for in
the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Public Law 89-665, or chapter 6E;

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(B)
�
Property
considered significant pursuant to section 284-6(b)(5), chapter 13, of the
Hawaii administrative rules; or

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(C)
�
Property
recognized as a traditional cultural property by the state historic
preservation division pursuant to section 6E-42;

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(5)
�
Propose
any use within the Waikiki area of Oahu, the boundaries of which are delineated
in the land use ordinance as amended, establishing the "Waikiki Special
District";

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(6)
�
Propose
any amendments to existing county general plans where the amendment would
result in designations other than agriculture, conservation, or preservation,
except actions proposing any new county general plan or amendments to any
existing county general plan initiated by a county;

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(7)
�
Propose
any reclassification of any land classified as a conservation district by the
state land use commission under chapter 205;

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(8)
�
Propose
the construction of new or the expansion or modification of existing helicopter
facilities within the State, that by way of their activities, may affect:

���������
(A)
�
Any
land classified as a conservation district by the state land use commission
under chapter 205;

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(B)
�
A
shoreline area as defined in section 205A-41; or

���������
(C)
�
Any
historic site as designated in the National Register or Hawaii Register, as
provided for in the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Public Law 89-665, or
chapter 6E; or until the statewide historic places inventory is completed, any
historic site that is found by a field reconnaissance of the area affected by
the helicopter facility and is under consideration for placement on the
National Register or the Hawaii Register of Historic Places; and

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(9)
�
Propose any:

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(A)
�
Wastewater
treatment unit, except an individual wastewater system or a wastewater
treatment unit serving fewer than fifty single-family dwellings or the
equivalent;

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(B)
�
Waste-to-energy
facility;

���������
(C)
�
Landfill;

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(D)
�
Oil
refinery; or

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(E)
�
Power-generating
facility.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Environmental
Assessment; Environmental Impact Statement; Requirement; Significant Historic
Properties; Traditional Cultural Properties

Description:

Requires
that an environmental assessment be conducted and an environmental impact
statement be prepared for any proposed use within historic properties
considered significant or recognized as a traditional cultural property.

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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.