SB2983 • 2026

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES.

Crime

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: LEE, C., CHANG
Last action: 2026-05-08
Official status: Enrolled to Governor.
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 NATURAL RESOURCES.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES.
Criminal Destruction of Trees; State or County Property; Misdemeanor Establishes the offense of criminal destruction of a tree on state or county property, punishable as a misdemeanor.
(CD1)

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.

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB2983 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2983 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2983 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2983 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2983 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2983 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2983 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2983 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2983 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES .

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Kong, Matsumoto voting no (6) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none).
2026-04-29 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-04-29 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 57-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-04-29 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
2026-04-29 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 57-26).
2026-04-29 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 2 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Garcia.
2026-04-29 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCorte.
2026-04-28 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-29-26 10:16AM; Conference Room 016.
2026-04-28 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 840).
2026-04-27 H
House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas Chair; Poepoe, Garcia.
2026-04-27 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 761).
2026-04-24 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Rhoads Co-Chair; DeCorte.
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. 723).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Cochran, Gedeon voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Kong, Matsumoto, Pierick voting no (5) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-09 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with Representative(s) Gedeon voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
2026-04-09 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1983-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-03-18 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.
2026-03-16 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-18-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 334) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-10 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). 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. 3044) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-04 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 03-04-26 9:40AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
2026-02-19 S
Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2417) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
2026-02-10 S
The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Hashimoto, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-05 S
The committee(s) on GVO deferred the measure until 02-10-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-02-02 S
The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-26 3:01PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
2026-01-30 S
Referred to GVO, JDC.
2026-01-26 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-23 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES.
Criminal Destruction of Trees; State or County Property; Misdemeanor
Establishes the offense of criminal destruction of a tree on state or county property, punishable as a misdemeanor. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2983

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2983

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to Natural resources
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 708,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

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"
�708-
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Criminal
destruction of a tree on state or county property.
�
(1)
�
A person commits the offense
of criminal destruction of a tree on state or county property if, by means
other than fire, t
he person intentionally or knowingly fells, injures,
or destroys a tree growing or standing upon state or county property to the
point of it having no value, or substantially damages the potential value of a
tree growing or standing upon state or county property without the consent of
the state or county on which the tree stands.

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(2)
�

Criminal destruction of a tree on state or county property is a
misdemeanor.

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(3)
�

In addition to any penalty prescribed in this chapter, a person found
guilty of violating this section shall also be required to pay to the State or
county an amount equal to the replacement value of the tree as determined by an
arborist.
"

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SECTION 2.
�

New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 3.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Criminal Destruction of Trees; State or County Property;
Misdemeanor

Description:

Establishes the offense of criminal destruction of a tree
on state or county property, punishable as a misdemeanor.

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