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SB2358 • 2026

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.

Active

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

Sponsor
DECOITE, CHANG, ELEFANTE, GABBARD, HASHIMOTO, INOUYE, RICHARDS, WAKAI, Kanuha
Last action
2026-02-13
Official status
The committee on WLA deferred the measure.
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 SEARCH AND RESCUE.

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.

What This Bill Does

  • RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.
  • Hiking Trails; Search and Rescue; Trespassing; Reimbursement; Signage Requires government entities to seek reimbursement for all or a portion of search or rescue expenses for persons who require rescue after leaving a hiking trail to enter an area closed to the public or hiking on a trail closed to the public, and there is a sign giving notice of the closure.

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.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-13 S

    The committee on WLA deferred the measure.

  2. 2026-02-11 S

    The committee on PSM deferred the measure.

  3. 2026-02-10 S

    The committee on PSM has added the measure to decision making scheduled on 02-11-26 3:00PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

  4. 2026-02-10 S

    Public notice requirement waived pursuant to Senate Rule 21.

  5. 2026-02-08 S

    The committee on PSM has deleted the measure from decision making scheduled on 02-09-26 3:00PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

  6. 2026-02-04 S

    The committee(s) on PSM deferred the measure until 02-09-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  7. 2026-02-04 S

    The committee(s) on WLA deferred the measure until 02-13-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

  8. 2026-01-30 S

    The committee(s) on WLA/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  9. 2026-01-26 S

    Referred to WLA/PSM, JDC/WAM.

  10. 2026-01-21 S

    Introduced and passed First Reading.

  11. 2026-01-15 S

    Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.
Hiking Trails; Search and Rescue; Trespassing; Reimbursement; Signage
Requires government entities to seek reimbursement for all or a portion of search or rescue expenses for persons who require rescue after leaving a hiking trail to enter an area closed to the public or hiking on a trail closed to the public, and there is a sign giving notice of the closure.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB2358

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2358

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that Hawaii is an
outdoor playground world-renowned for its beautiful hikes through lush green
forests and mountains.
�
However, the
coronavirus pandemic fueled a sustained surge of experienced and inexperienced
hikers venturing outdoors.
�
Occasionally,
hikers
ignore
posted warning signs, intentionally leave a hiking trail, or enter property
that is closed to the public
.
�
When one of these hikers needs to be rescued,
it is government entities that bear the costs associated with the search or
rescue.

����
The
legislature further finds that in response to having to pay the cost of
rescuing recreational hikers who take unnecessary risks, several states,
including Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota, and Vermont, have
passed legislation that allows the state to offset the costs associated with
the search or rescue by seeking reimbursement from the rescued party.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to require government entities to seek reimbursement for
all or a portion of search or rescue expenses for persons who require rescue
after:

����
(1)
�
Leaving a hiking trail and entering
state, county, or private property that is closed to the public and is marked
with a sign giving notice of the closure; or

����
(2)
�
Entering a hiking trail that is closed
to the public and marked with a sign giving notice of the closure.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 137-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
[
[
]�137-2[
]
]
�
Reimbursement.
�
(a)
�
[
Whenever
]

Subject to subsection (b), whenever
any government entity engages in a
search or rescue operation for the purpose of searching for or rescuing a
person, and incurs search and rescue expenses therein, the government entity
may seek reimbursement from the following:

����
(1)
�
The
person on whose behalf search or rescue operations were conducted, including
the person's estate, guardians, custodians, or other entity responsible for the
person's safety;

����
(2)
�
A
person who ultimately benefited from a search or rescue operation by being
rescued; or

����
(3)
�
Any
entity responsible for placing the person in the position of danger for which
the search or rescue operation was initiated.

����
(b)
�

[
Reimbursement under subsection (a) shall be allowed only if the need
for search or rescue was caused by any act or omission by the person searched
for or rescued, constituting intentional disregard for the person's safety,
including, but not limited to, intentionally disregarding a warning or notice.
]

A
government entity shall seek reimbursement for all or a portion, but not less
than half, of search or rescue expenses from all applicable persons or entities
pursuant to subsection (a) if the need for the search or rescue was the result
of the person:

����
(1)
�
Leaving a hiking trail and entering
state, county, or private property that is closed to the public and marked with
a sign giving notice of the closure; or

����
(2)
�
Entering a hiking trail that is
closed to the public and marked with a sign giving notice of the closure.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that
were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

����
SECTION 4.
�

Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hiking
Trails; Search and Rescue; Trespassing; Reimbursement; Signage

Description:

Requires government entities to seek reimbursement for all
or a portion of search or rescue expenses for persons who require rescue after
leaving a hiking trail to enter an area closed to the public or hiking on a
trail closed to the public, and there is a sign giving notice of the closure.

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