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HB913 • 2026

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Budget
Active

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

Sponsor
HASHEM, BELATTI, LAMOSAO, LEE, M., MIYAKE, POEPOE
Last action
2025-12-08
Official status
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the specific tasks of each position or how many new jobs will be created beyond the funding amounts specified.

Funding Positions in the Division of Aquatic Resources

This bill provides funding to create new positions within the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Appropriates $551,064 over two fiscal years to establish positions within the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who work for the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources

Terms To Know

Aquatic Biologist
A scientist who studies water-based plants and animals, like fish and coral.
Fishery Technician
Someone who helps manage fisheries by collecting data and monitoring fishing activities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact number of new jobs or their specific tasks.
  • It is unclear if the funding will fully cover all costs associated with hiring these new positions.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-01-23 H

    Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 3

  3. 2025-01-23 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  4. 2025-01-21 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
DLNR; DAR; Aquatic Resources; Positions; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds to establish positions within the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB913

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

913

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the department of land and natural resources
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that the
department of land and natural resources, division of aquatic resources'
mission is to manage, conserve, and restore the State's unique aquatic
resources and ecosystems for present and future generations.
�
The State faces numerous increasing threats
to its streams, estuaries, and reefs from invasive species, habit degradation,
land-based sources of pollution, reduced freshwater flow, and disasters.
�
These in turn have adversely impacted the
fishing and gathering practices of local communities.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to support the important work of the division of aquatic
resources by funding various positions within the division.

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $551,064 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish and fund the
following positions within the department of land and natural resources,
division of aquatic resources:

����
(1)
�
$71,016 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE)
aquatic biologist V position for permitting and environmental review;

����
(2)
�
$63,096 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE)
aquatic biologist IV position for permitting and environmental review;

����
(3)
�
$71,016 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE)
aquatic biologist V position for environmental response to emergencies;

����
(4)
�
$71,016 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE)
aquatic biologist V position for aquatic invasive species;

����
(5)
�
$63,096 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE)
aquatic biologist IV position for noncommercial fisheries;

����
(6)
�
$63,096 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE)
aquatic biologist IV position for Molokai;

����
(7)
�
$58,296 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE)
aquatic biologist III position for Molokai; and

����
(8)
�
$90,432 for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE)
fishery technician IV positions for Molokai.

����
The sums

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

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SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DLNR;
DAR; Aquatic Resources; Positions; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to establish positions within the Department
of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources.

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