SB1074 • 2026

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS.

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Active

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

Sponsor: INOUYE, CHANG, HASHIMOTO, Richards, San Buenaventura
Last action: 2026-04-17
Official status: Re-Referred to WLA/AEN, JDC.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS.
Environmental Assessment; Commercial Activities; Temporary Exemption; Challenge; Permits Allows an activity or operation that is permitted or authorized under the ocean recreation and coastal areas program chapter and renewed within twelve months preceding the initiation of proceedings to determine whether the activity or operation is subject to environmental review, to continue operation for one year while the appropriate agency makes the determination and conducts any necessary environmental review.
Allows a person with oversight of the activity or operation to renew the appropriate permits while under the environmental review process.
Sunsets 6/30/2027.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB1074 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB1074 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
1074 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: SB1074 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB1074 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
1074 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB1074 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB1074 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
1074 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS .

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB1074 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB1074 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
1074 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS .

Bill History

2026-04-17 S
Re-Referred to WLA/AEN, JDC.
2026-04-02 S
Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
2026-04-01 H
House Conferee(s) discharged.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-21 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 754).
2025-04-17 H
House Conferees Appointed: Lowen, Hashem, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Morikawa, Souza.
2025-04-08 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 774).
2025-04-08 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2025-04-08 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 592).
2025-04-04 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Matayoshi, Shimizu, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Iwamoto, Kila, Kitagawa, Marten, Perruso, Poepoe voting no (10) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-04-02 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 04-04-25.
2025-04-02 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1785) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-03-27 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Poepoe, Perruso; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
2025-03-25 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 03-27-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-03-20 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Perruso, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Poepoe voting no (2) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
2025-03-20 H
Reported from EEP/WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1398) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-03-18 H
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Ichiyama, Morikawa; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Belatti, Shimizu, Souza; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Poepoe; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.
2025-03-18 H
The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Kahaloa, Kusch; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Perruso; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.
2025-03-14 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP/WAL on Tuesday, 03-18-25 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-03-06 H
Referred to EEP/WAL, JHA, referral sheet 19
2025-03-06 H
Pass First Reading
2025-03-04 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 255) in amended form (SD 2).
2025-03-04 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Gabbard, Ihara, McKelvey, Richards. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-02-28 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.
2025-02-28 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1043) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2025-02-26 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Gabbard ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.
2025-02-21 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 9:40AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2025-02-14 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
2025-02-14 S
Reported from WTL/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 570) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
2025-02-12 S
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, Rhoads ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.
2025-02-12 S
The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WTL were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Chang, McKelvey, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-02-07 S
The committee(s) on WTL/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-12-25 1:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2025-01-23 S
Referred to WTL/AEN, JDC.
2025-01-21 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-01-17 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS.
Environmental Assessment; Commercial Activities; Temporary Exemption; Challenge; Permits
Allows an activity or operation that is permitted or authorized under the ocean recreation and coastal areas program chapter and renewed within twelve months preceding the initiation of proceedings to determine whether the activity or operation is subject to environmental review, to continue operation for one year while the appropriate agency makes the determination and conducts any necessary environmental review. Allows a person with oversight of the activity or operation to renew the appropriate permits while under the environmental review process. Sunsets 6/30/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB1074

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1074

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to environmental impact statements
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that the State's
environmental review process is designed to scrutinize new projects with
potential environmental impacts.
�

However, recent court decisions have broadened the definition of
"action", which includes long-permitted commercial activities which
the State did not originally intend to be subject to environmental review.
�
As a result, long-standing commercial operations
may be forced to cease operation despite their decades-long compliance with
regulatory requirements.

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The
legislature further finds that it is necessary to clarify that the
environmental review process is intended to evaluate the environmental impact
of new projects, not to disrupt ongoing, well-regulated activities.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to allow:

����
(1)
�
A previously authorized or permitted activity
or operation to continue operation while the appropriate agency determines whether
the activity or operation is subject to or exempt from the environmental review
process; and

����
(2)
�
An operator of a previously authorized
or permitted activity or operation to renew the appropriate permits while under
the environmental review process.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

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"
�343-
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Temporary continuation of authorized or
permitted activities; challenge; exemption.
�
(a)
�

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, when an activity or operation
previously permitted, authorized, or undertaken by a state or county agency is
challenged as being subject to the requirements of this chapter, the activity
or operation may continue pending the:

����
(1)
�
Determination of the appropriate
agency that the activity or operation is subject to or exempt from the
requirements of this chapter; and

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(2)
�
Preparation and submission of an
environmental assessment or environmental impact statement to the appropriate
accepting agency if it is determined that the activity or operation is subject
to the requirements of this chapter;

provided
that the activity or operation shall continue to comply with regulatory
requirements; provided further that the activity or operation shall not include
construction, grading, dredging, or other structural modifications to land,
waterways, or marine environments.

����
(b)
�
If an agency determines that an activity or
operation previously authorized, permitted, or undertaken by a state or county
agency is subject to the requirements of this chapter, a person with oversight
of the activity or operation may renew the appropriate permits while under the
environmental review process; provided that the activity or operation continues
to comply with regulatory requirements.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

����
SECTION
4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Environmental
Assessment; Temporary Exemption; Challenge; Permits

Description:

Allows a
previously authorized or permitted activity or operations to continue operation
while the appropriate agency determines whether the activity or operation is
subject to or exempt from the environmental review process when challenged.
�
Allows a person with oversight of a previously
authorized or permitted activity to renew the appropriate permits while under
the environmental review process.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.