SB2363 • 2026

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.

Active

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

Sponsor: MORIWAKI, ELEFANTE, FEVELLA, FUKUNAGA, GABBARD, HASHIMOTO, INOUYE, KIDANI, SAN BUENAVENTURA, Wakai
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 811).
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 THE COUNTIES.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.
Counties; Public Lands; Closure; Restriction Authorizes the counties to close or restrict public lands under the county's jurisdiction when necessary to protect public health, ensure public safety, or preserve natural or cultural resources.
Effective 7/1/3000.
(HD2)

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: SB2363 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2363 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2363 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COUNTIES .

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: SB2363 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2363 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2363 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COUNTIES .

Bill History

2026-04-23 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 811).
2026-04-22 H
House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Tam, Shimizu.
2026-04-16 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
2026-04-16 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-16 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 648).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Perruso, Poepoe voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (5) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-09 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
2026-04-09 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2032-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-25 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Takayama, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Sayama, Cochran.
2026-03-23 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-19 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia voting no (1) and none excused (0).
2026-03-19 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1237-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-03-17 H
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Woodson.
2026-03-12 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 03-17-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 217).
2026-03-10 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-06 S
One Day Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2997) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-27 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-23 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-27-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-18 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.
2026-02-18 S
Reported from EIG/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2322) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.
2026-02-10 S
The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in EIG were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-10 S
The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on EIG/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 3:07PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-01-26 S
Referred to EIG/PSM, JDC.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-16 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.
Counties; Public Lands; Closure; Restriction
Authorizes the counties to close or restrict public lands under the county's jurisdiction when necessary to protect public health, ensure public safety, or preserve natural or cultural resources. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2363

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2363

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the counties
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that the counties
manage and control public lands within their jurisdictions, including lands of
great natural, cultural, and recreational significance.
�
These lands are used by residents and
visitors and are essential to the public's enjoyment, health, and welfare.

����
The
legislature further finds that circumstances sometimes require the temporary or
permanent closure or restriction of public access to these lands.
�
These circumstances may include natural
disasters, hazardous conditions, wildfire risks, erosion, flooding, cultural
site preservation, public sanitation, and other threats to public health or
safety.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to authorize the counties to restrict or close public
lands under the county's jurisdiction when necessary to protect public health,
ensure public safety, or preserve natural or cultural resources.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to part V to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�46-
��
��
Closure
or restriction of public use of county‑controlled property.
�
(a)
�
Each county, or the county's authorized
representative, may close or restrict the public use of any property under the county's
management or control when necessary to protect public health, ensure public safety,
or preserve natural or cultural resources.

����
(b)
�
Closures or restrictions under this section
may include the temporary or permanent:

����
(1)
�
Denial of access to specific areas;

����
(2)
�
Imposition or modification of hours
of operation;

����
(3)
�
Prohibition or limitation of
specified activities; or

����
(4)
�
Establishment of conditions for
entry or use.

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(c)
�
The county shall give public notice of any
closure or restriction imposed under this section in a manner reasonably
calculated to inform the public, including the posting of appropriate signs at
or near the affected property, publication on the county's official website, or
by other reasonable means as determined by the county.

����
(d)
�
Nothing in this section shall be construed to
limit the authority of the county to close or restrict access for other lawful
reasons or under any other provisions of law.
"

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

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Counties;
Public Lands; Closure

Description:

Authorizes
the counties to close public lands when necessary to protect public health,
ensure public safety, or preserve natural or cultural resources.

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