RELATING TO THE GREEN FEE.

HB1949

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1949

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the green fee
.

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

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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that Hawaii's
natural and cultural resources--its beaches, reefs, forests, streams, unique
ecosystems, and cultural landscapes--form the foundation of the State's
identity, economy, and overall well-being.
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An increasing volume of tourism places
significant pressure on the very resources that sustain the people and
environment of the islands.
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In response,
the State established a "green fee", an increase in the transient
accommodations tax and a new imposition of taxes on cruise fares, to mitigate
the impacts of tourism and climate change and to support environmental
protection, ecosystem restoration, natural resource management, and destination
management throughout Hawaii, through the enactment of Act 96, Session Laws of
Hawaii 2025.

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The
legislature further finds that the green fee represents a transformative
opportunity to ensure that those who enjoy Hawaii's natural resources also
contribute to their care.
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Revenues
generated by the fee are intended to support projects such as invasive species
removal, coral reef restoration, beach nourishment, cultural site protection,
watershed management, enhancements to visitor experience, and resilience
against climate change impacts.
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To
maximize the effectiveness of these funds and maintain public confidence in
their use, transparency, oversight, and accountability are essential.

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The
legislature also finds that multiple state agencies will receive
green-fee-supported appropriations for projects across the islands.
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These agencies include but are not limited to
those overseeing land and natural resources, state parks, transportation,
agriculture, climate resilience, and wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.
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While each agency plays a critical role in
stewarding Hawaii's environment, the public currently lacks a comprehensive,
centralized, and easily accessible source of information about how green fee
revenues are allocated, obligated, and expended.

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The
legislature additionally finds that Hawaii's public trust responsibilities, as articulated
in the Hawaii State Constitution, impose an affirmative duty upon the State to
protect and maintain natural resources for present and future generations.
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Ensuring transparent and responsible use of
the green fee aligns with this duty by allowing residents, visitors,
policymakers, and stakeholders to track these environmental investments,
monitor project progress, and evaluate whether expenditures are achieving their
intended environmental outcomes.

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Furthermore,
the legislature finds that establishing a statewide green fee resiliency impact
dashboard would support informed decision-making; promote fiscal
responsibility; enhance collaboration across agencies; enable real-time public
insight into project performance; and strengthen trust in the stewardship of
Hawaii's natural and cultural resources.
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The dashboard would consolidate data,
standardize reporting, and provide clear narratives and metrics illustrating
how revenues are used, where projects are located, and what environmental
benefits are being realized.

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The
legislature concludes that immediate action is necessary to establish a
publicly accessible, regularly updated transparency platform that reflects the
State's commitment to accountability, responsible resource management, and the
long-term health of Hawaii's environment.

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Therefore,
the purpose of this Act is to establish a green fee transparency and
accountability program and green fee resiliency impact dashboard, to be
administered by the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission.

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SECTION 2.
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The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by
adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"
Chapter

GREEN FEE
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY; PROGRAM; DASHBOARD

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-1
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Definitions.
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As used in this chapter, unless the context
clearly requires otherwise:

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"Agency"
means any department, board, commission, bureau, office, or other
administrative unit of the State or a county that receives, expends, or manages
green fee revenues.

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"Commission"
means the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission
established by section 225P-3.

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"County"
includes the city and county of Honolulu, county of Hawaii, county of Kauai,
and county of Maui.

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"Dashboard"
means the online, public-facing, interactive green fee resiliency impact
dashboard established by section -2.

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"Green
fee" and "green fee revenues" means the revenue collected
pursuant to Act 96, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, for the purposes of
environmental protection, natural resource restoration, climate adaptation, and
other related uses as provided by law.

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"Program"
means the green fee transparency and accountability program established by
section -2.

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-2
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Green fee transparency and accountability
program; dashboard; establishment.
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(a)

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There is established within the
commission the green fee transparency and accountability program.
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The program shall be administered by a green
fee transparency and accountability coordinator, who shall be appointed by the
commission without regard to chapter 76 and placed within the office of the chairperson
of the board of land and natural resources.

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(b)
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The program shall:

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(1)
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Develop, implement, and maintain an online,
public-facing, interactive green fee resiliency impact dashboard that provides
clear, timely, and standardized information on:

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(A)
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Annual and cumulative green fee revenues
collected;

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(B)
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Allocations and appropriations by project,
program, and agency;

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(C)
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Expenditures and obligations, including
project-level spending;

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(D)
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Project descriptions, objectives, geographic
locations, timelines, and performance indicators; and

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(E)
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Environmental, economic, cultural, tourism, or
climate-resilience outcomes associated with funded activities;

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(2)
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Establish uniform reporting requirements and
data-submission standards for all agencies receiving or expending green fee
revenues;

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(3)
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Coordinate with agencies to ensure accurate,
complete, and timely transmission of expenditure information, project status
updates, and performance metrics;

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(4)
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Provide an annual public summary of project
categories funded by green fee revenues, including assessments of
effectiveness, gaps, and opportunities for improvement; and

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(5)
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Conduct statewide public outreach and
education to increase awareness of how green fee revenues support environmental
protection and climate resilience.

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-3
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Cooperation by state and county agencies.
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Any agency that receives, administers, or
expends green fee revenues shall provide any information, data, reports, or
documentation requested by the commission or the program within thirty calendar
days of the request; provided that the commission may grant extensions, as
needed.

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-4
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Annual report.
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No later than December 1 of each year,
beginning in 2026, the commission shall submit to the legislature, governor,
and mayor of each county a report summarizing:

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(1)
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The commission's activities under this
chapter;

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(2)
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Updates and enhancements to the dashboard;

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(3)
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Green fee revenue allocations and expenditures
during the prior fiscal year; and

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(4)
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Outcomes and performance measures for projects
funded with green fee revenues."

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SECTION
3.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the
development, implementation, and maintenance of the green fee resiliency impact
dashboard established by section 2 of this Act.

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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation
commission for the purposes of this Act.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Green Fee Transparency and Accountability
Program; Green Fee Resiliency Impact Dashboard
; Hawaii Climate Change
Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the Green Fee Transparency and Accountability Program
and Green Fee Resiliency Impact Dashboard, to be administered by the Hawaii
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.
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Appropriates funds.

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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.