RELATING TO CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT.

Budget Taxes

Active

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

Sponsor: KAHALOA
Last action: 2026-01-28
Official status: Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 3
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific dollar amounts for the appropriations.

Appropriation for DOCARE Equipment

This bill provides funds from the state's budget to purchase equipment, including a maritime patrol vessel and police-marked patrol vehicles, for the Hawaii Island Branch of DOCARE.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates funds from general revenues for fiscal year 2026-2027 to buy a maritime enforcement patrol vessel with emergency equipment.
Provides funding to purchase twenty police-marked patrol vehicles equipped with audible and visual emergency equipment.

Who It Names or Affects

The Hawaii Island Branch of DOCARE, which is part of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Conservation officers working in Hawaii Island who will use the new equipment.

Terms To Know

DOCARE: Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement
General Revenues: Money collected by the state government from taxes, fees, and other sources.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact amount of money to be appropriated is not specified in the bill text.
It's unclear how many conservation officers will benefit directly from this equipment purchase.

Bill History

2026-01-28 H
Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT.
DLNR; DOCARE; Hawaii Island Branch; Equipment; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds for the purchase of equipment for the Hawaii Island Branch of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2018

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2018

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to conservation enforcement
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that the division of conservation and resources enforcement
(DOCARE) of the department of land and natural resources will be launching a
new academy in 2026 and that a significant number of the incoming conservation
and resources enforcement officers will be assigned to the Hawai
ʻ
i
island branch of DOCARE.
�
The legislature
further finds that the Hawai
ʻ
i island branch is
critically short on vehicles, with the majority of its existing fleet well
beyond their intended life of service.
�

The legislature also finds that the upcoming DOCARE academy will include
additional marine officers, necessitating an additional maritime patrol vessel
for the marine unit based in West Hawai
ʻ
i.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
appropriate funds for the purchase of equipment for the Hawai
ʻ
i
island branch of DOCARE.

����
SECTION 2.
�

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 equipment for
the Hawaii island branch of the division of conservation and resources
enforcement of the department of land and natural resources, to be allocated as
follows:

����
(1)
�
$
for one maritime enforcement patrol vessel, complete with audible and visual
emergency equipment; and

����
(2)
�
$
for twenty police-marked patrol vehicles, complete with audible and visual
emergency equipment.

����
The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DLNR;
DOCARE; Hawaii Island Branch; Equipment; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
funds for the purchase of equipment for the Hawaii Island Branch of the
Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of the Department of Land
and Natural Resources.

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