HB1904 • 2026

RELATING TO SPACE OPERATIONS.

Budget Education

Active

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

Sponsor: SOUZA, BELATTI, HASHEM, HUSSEY, ILAGAN, IWAMOTO
Last action: 2026-02-20
Official status: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not explicitly mention establishing a system for tracking space objects and issuing collision warnings, though it is implied by other provisions.

Rules for Space Operations in Hawaii

This bill establishes a board to oversee space activities, sets rules for registering spacecraft operators, funds research grants, and requires annual reports to the legislature.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Hawaii Orbital Sustainability and Space Traffic Board within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Requires all operators conducting aerospace activities in state airspace to register with the board before starting their operations.
Funds research grants for projects related to orbital debris removal, space situational awareness systems, STEM education, and public-private partnerships.
Requires compliance with environmental laws, cultural preservation rules, and Native Hawaiian consultation.

Who It Names or Affects

Spacecraft operators conducting activities in Hawaii's airspace
The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism

Terms To Know

Aerospace Activities: Activities related to the design, launch, operation, and recovery of aircraft, satellites, spacecraft, and other space technologies.
Orbital Debris: Non-functional human-made objects in orbit that can pose a collision risk.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the board will enforce compliance with its rules.
It is unclear what penalties operators might face for non-compliance beyond suspension or revocation of registration and loss of grant funding.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment adds a new part to Hawaii Revised Statutes, establishing the Hawaii Orbital Sustainability and Space Traffic Management Act which sets up a state board to oversee space operations, ensure compliance with environmental and cultural standards, and manage orbital debris.

Establishes the Hawaii Orbital Sustainability and Space Traffic Board within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Requires operators conducting aerospace activities in or affecting Hawaii's airspace to register with the board before commencing operations.
Directs the board to establish an orbital tracking and traffic management system to monitor satellites and debris over Hawaii.
Instructs the board to coordinate research grants for space situational awareness, workforce development, and public-private partnerships.

The amendment text is extensive and includes many detailed provisions that are not summarized here due to their complexity and length.

Bill History

2026-02-20 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 615-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-02-18 H
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-12 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Wednesday, 02-18-26 9:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 2
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO SPACE OPERATIONS.
DBEDT; Orbital Sustainability; Space Traffic Management; Debris Mitigation; Space Operations; Aerospace Activities; Board; Report; Reports; Appropriation
Establishes within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism the Hawaii Orbital Sustainability and Space Traffic Board and orbital tracking and traffic management system. Establishes registration and compliance standards for aerospace activities in state airspace. Authorizes the awarding of research, education, and workforce development grants. Requires compliance with the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act and historic preservation requirements, and Native Hawaiian cultural consultation. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1904

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1904

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Space Operations
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

"
Part .
�
Hawaii Orbital Sustainability and Space
Traffic Management

����
�
201-A
�
Short title.
�
This part shall be known and may be cited as
the "Hawaii Orbital Sustainability and Space Traffic Management Act".

����
�
201-B
�
Purpose.
�

The purpose of this part is to:

����
(1)
�
Promote safe, responsible, and sustainable
space operations;

����
(2)
�
Establish state coordination and oversight for
orbital traffic and orbital debris mitigation;

����
(3)
�
Support research, workforce development, and
public‑private partnerships in space operations; and

����
(4)
�
Ensure compliance with environmental and
cultural standards in the State.

����
�
201-C
�
Definitions.
�
For the purposes of this part:

����
"Aerospace
activities" means the design, launch, operation, and recovery of aircraft,
satellites, spacecraft, launch systems, or related technologies.

����
"Board"
means the Hawaii orbital sustainability and space traffic board.

����
"Launch
corridor" means designated airspace or property approved by the board for
aerospace operations.

����
"Operator"
means any person or entity conducting aerospace activities from, or affecting,
the State's airspace or facilities.

����
"Orbital
debris" means non-functional human-made objects in orbit, including
decommissioned satellites and fragments that pose a collision risk.

����
�
201-D
�
Hawaii orbital sustainability and space traffic
board; establishment.
�
(a)
�
There is established within the department of
business, economic development, and tourism the Hawaii orbital sustainability
and space traffic board.

����
(b)
�
The board shall comprise the following
members or their designees:

����
(1)
�
The director of business, economic
development, and tourism, who shall serve as chairperson;

����
(2)
�
The president of the university of Hawaii;

����
(3)
�
The superintendent of education;

����
(4)
�
The director of labor and industrial
relations;

����
(5)
�
The executive director of the Pacific
international space center for exploration systems; and

����
(6)
�
Three private-sector aerospace experts invited
to participate by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate and
whose terms shall be subject to section 26-34.

Members of the board shall serve without
compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses,
including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their duties.

����
(c)
�
In addition to any other powers or duties
provided in this part, the board shall:

����
(1)
�
Approve and oversee all state-supported space
operations programs utilizing public moneys;

����
(2)
�
Establish and maintain an orbital tracking and
space traffic coordination system for the State;

����
(3)
�
Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for
operator registration, orbital debris mitigation, and enforcement;

����
(4)
�
Coordinate with federal agencies, including
the Federal Aviation Administration, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, and United States Space Force; and

����
(5)
�
Submit a report to the legislature no later
than twenty days prior to each regular session that includes, at a minimum, the
information described in section 201-I for the preceding year
.

����
�
201-E
�
Operator registration; compliance.
�
(a)
�
All
operators shall register with the board prior to conducting any aerospace
activity affecting the State's airspace.

����
(b)
�
Registration shall include submission of:

����
(1)
�
A detailed mission plan, subject to standards
established by the board, including launch dates, orbital parameters, and an
end-of-life disposal strategy;

����
(2)
�
A debris mitigation plan pursuant to Federal
Aviation Administration regulations and international guidelines; and

����
(3)
�
Proof of insurance or financial liability for
potential damages.

����
(c)
�
The board may deny an operator's registration
or suspend operations for noncompliance with any provision of this section.

����
�
201-F
�
Orbital tracking and traffic management
system.

�
(a)
�
The board shall establish, maintain, and
operate a state orbital tracking and traffic management system; provided that
the board may award contracts pursuant to chapter 103D for these purposes.

����
(b)
�
The orbital tracking and traffic management
system shall:

����
(1)
�
Monitor and track active satellites and debris
in orbit over the State;

����
(2)
�
Issue collision warnings;

����
(3)
�
Coordinate with and provide guidance to
operators; and

����
(4)
�
Maintain data consistent with Federal Aviation
Administration reporting requirements and international guidelines.

����
(c)
�
Operators shall comply with all guidance
issued by the board to avoid collisions and mitigate debris.

����
�
201-G
�
Research; workforce development; education
programs.
�
(a)
�
In coordination with the Pacific
international space center for exploration systems, the board shall award and administer
grants supporting:

����
(1)
�
Orbital debris removal and mitigation
technologies;

����
(2)
�
Space situational awareness systems;

����
(3)
�
Science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics education and workforce training programs; and

����
(4)
�
Public-private aerospace research partnerships.

����
(b)
�
Grants awarded pursuant to subsection (a)
shall include measurable milestones and annual reporting requirements.

����
�
201-H
�
Environmental and cultural compliance.
�
All aerospace operations and projects funded
or approved pursuant to this part shall:

����
(1)
�
Comply with chapter 343;

����
(2)
�
Respect Native Hawaiian cultural sites and comply
with historic preservation program requirements, including consultation
requirements under chapter 6E; and

����
(3)
�
Comply with all debris mitigation standards
and requirements.

����
�
201-I
�
Accountability; reporting requirement.
�
(a)
�

The board shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty
days prior to each regular session, which shall include:

����
(1)
�
A list of registered operators and a summary
of each operator's activities;

����
(2)
�
Description of debris incidents that occurred
or collision warnings issued;

����
(3)
�
Outcomes of research, education, and workforce
development programs; and

����
(4)
�
An
analysis of environmental and cultural compliance.

����
(b)
�
The board shall maintain a publicly
accessible database of orbital activities and compliance actions.

����
�
201-J
�
Enforcement.
�
A violation of any provision of this part may
result in:

����
(1)
�
Suspension or revocation of an operator's
registration;

����
(2)
�
Forfeiture of state grant funding; and

����
(3)
�
Debarment from state-supported programs for not
more than three years.

����
(b)
�
The board may adopt rules pursuant to chapter
91 as necessary to implement this part."

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,000,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the implementation of
section 1 of this Act, including:

����
(1)
�
The establishment and operation of the orbital
tracking and traffic management system;

����
(2)
�
Disbursement of grants for research,
education, and workforce development programs; and

����
(3)
�
Administrative costs.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development,
and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�
In codifying the new sections added by
section 1 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate
section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this
Act.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DBEDT;
Orbital Sustainability; Space Traffic Management; Debris Mitigation; Space
Operations; Aerospace Activities; Board; Report; Appropriation; Reports

Description:

Establishes
within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism the Hawaii
Orbital Sustainability and Space Traffic Board and orbital tracking and traffic
management system.
�
Establishes registration
and compliance standards for aerospace activities in state airspace.
�
Authorizes the awarding of research,
education, and workforce development grants.
�

Requires compliance with the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act and
historic preservation requirements, and Native Hawaiian cultural
consultation.
�
Requires annual reports to
the Legislature.
�
Appropriates moneys.

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