SB2972 • 2026

RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION.

Active

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

Sponsor: LEE, C.
Last action: 2026-04-28
Official status: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.
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 OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION.
Holomua Marine Initiative; DLNR; DAR; Oahu Coral Reef Restoration Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources to begin the Holomua Marine Initiative process no later than 7/1/2027 to address coral reef restoration on Oahu.
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: SB2972 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2972 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2972 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: SB2972 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2972 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2972 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2972 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2972 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2972 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION .

Bill History

2026-04-28 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.
2026-04-27 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:00AM; CR 229.
2026-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-27-26 9:00AM; CR 229.
2026-04-22 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 720).
2026-04-21 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Gabbard, Rhoads Co-Chairs.
2026-04-21 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800).
2026-04-21 H
House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Tarnas Co-Chairs; 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. 722).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Gedeon, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (5) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-10 H
Deferred one day 04-14-26.
2026-04-08 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 04-10-26.
2026-04-08 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1831-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-02 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.
2026-03-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-24 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Gedeon voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).
2026-03-24 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1344-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-03-19 H
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.
2026-03-17 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Thursday, 03-19-26 9:00AM in conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-17 H
The committee(s) on WAL recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-19-26.
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. 329) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-10 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite. 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. 2976) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-03 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.
2026-02-24 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-20 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
2026-02-20 S
Reported from WLA/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2631) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
2026-02-11 S
The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-11 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; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards, DeCoite ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on WLA/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.
2026-01-30 S
Referred to WLA/AEN, JDC.
2026-01-26 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-23 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION.
Holomua Marine Initiative; DLNR; DAR; Oahu Coral Reef Restoration
Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources to begin the Holomua Marine Initiative process no later than 7/1/2027 to address coral reef restoration on Oahu. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2972

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2972

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to OAHU coral reef restoration
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 188, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�188-
�
Uhu
and kala; temporary restrictions.
�
(a)
�
No person shall intentionally or knowingly
take by spearing after sunset or before sunrise any uhu (parrotfish, family
Scaridae) or kala (bluespine unicornfish, Naso unicornis) in state marine
waters around the island of Oahu.

����
(b)
�

No person on the island of Oahu shall engage in the commercial sale of
any uhu or kala that has been taken by spearing.

����
(c)
�

The prohibitions under this section shall remain in effect until the
division of aquatic resources' Holomua marine initiative process implements new
regulations that will recover uhu and kala populations to levels that prevent seaweed
from smothering corals pursuant to rules adopted by the board for the island of
Oahu.
�
Upon the adoption of the
regulations under the division of aquatic resources' Holomua marine initiative
process pursuant to rules adopted by the board, this section shall be void.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�
This Act does not affect rights and duties
that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun
before its effective date.

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

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Fishing
Regulations; Uhu; Kala; Spearing; Sales; Temporary Restrictions

Description:

Temporarily
prohibits the taking by spearing of uhu or kala in state marine waters around
the island of Oahu, and prohibits the commercial sale of uhu and kala so taken,
until the
Division of Aquatic
Resources' Holomua Marine Initiative process adopts applicable regulations
.

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