SB2478 • 2026

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE AND HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND BEACHES.

Active

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

Sponsor: GABBARD, FUKUNAGA, MORIWAKI, RHOADS
Last action: 2026-02-20
Official status: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.
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.

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE AND HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND BEACHES.

What This Bill Does

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE AND HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND BEACHES.
Constitutional Amendment; Green Amendment; Environmental Protection (ConAm) Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate and healthy native ecosystems and beaches, shall be protected and shall not be infringed.
Effective 7/1/2050.
(SD1)

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.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2478 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2478 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2478 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE AND HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND BEACHES .

Bill History

2026-02-20 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.
2026-02-20 S
Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2498) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.
2026-02-13 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) Gabbard, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.
2026-02-10 S
The committee(s) on AEN has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-13-26 3:10PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.
2026-02-08 S
The committee(s) on AEN deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 4:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 4:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-01-28 S
Referred to AEN, JDC/WAM.
2026-01-22 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-22 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE AND HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND BEACHES.
Constitutional Amendment; Green Amendment; Environmental Protection (ConAm)
Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate and healthy native ecosystems and beaches, shall be protected and shall not be infringed. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2478

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2478

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE
CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL
PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE AND HEALTHY
NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND BEACHES
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The purpose of
this Act is to propose an amendment to article I, of the Hawaii State
Constitution to establish the constitutional right of the people, including
present and future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment
and climate, healthy native ecosystems, and beaches, that shall be protected
and shall not be infringed.

����
This proposed amendment reflects the rooted
traditions and collective cultural conscience of the State's people, and
exemplifies the fundamental Native Hawaiian notion of Aloha Aina, which
translates to "love of the land" and is central to Native Hawaiian
values and beliefs.
�
The amendment will
complement existing constitutional provisions and reinforce protections of
human health, natural and cultural values, and the environment, all of which
are essential to the sustenance of the State as well as the intrinsic beauty of
its islands that attract admiration from people all over the world.

����
SECTION 2.
�

Article 1 of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended by
adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS

����
Section
.
�
The inherent and inalienable rights of the
people, including present and future generations, to clean water and air, a
healthful environment and climate and healthy native ecosystems and beaches,
shall be protected and shall not be infringed.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�

The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

����
"Shall the Hawaii State Constitution
be amended to ensure the inherent and inalienable right of the people,
including present and future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful
environment and climate and healthy native ecosystems and beaches, shall be
protected and shall not be infringed?"

����
SECTION 4.
�

New constitutional material is underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�

This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII,
section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Constitutional
Amendment; Green Amendment; Environmental Protection

Description:

Proposes
a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of
the people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful
environment and climate and healthy native ecosystems and beaches, shall be
protected and shall not be infringed.

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