SB3014 • 2026

RELATING TO WILDLIFE.

Active

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

Sponsor: LEE, C., CHANG, HASHIMOTO, MCKELVEY, SAN BUENAVENTURA
Last action: 2026-03-24
Official status: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).
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 WILDLIFE.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO WILDLIFE.
Turtles; Honu; Take; Handling; Harassment; Fines; Increase Increases the fines for taking or harassing protected turtles in the State.
Effective 7/1/3000.
(HD1)

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: SB3014 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB3014 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
3014 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDLIFE .

Bill History

2026-03-24 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).
2026-03-24 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1345-26) 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.
2026-03-16 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 03-19-26 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. 341).
2026-03-10 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite. Noes, 0 (none). 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. 2979) 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: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; 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.
2026-02-20 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.
2026-02-20 S
Reported from WLA/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2622) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.
2026-02-11 S
The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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, UNAMENDED. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite ; 0 No(es): none; 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 WILDLIFE.
Turtles; Honu; Take; Handling; Harassment; Fines; Increase
Increases the fines for taking or harassing protected turtles in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB3014

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3014

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to wildlife
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that the State's native and endangered species are an
essential part of the State's natural and cultural heritage and require strong
legal protections.
�
Among these species,
the Hawaiian green sea turtle, or honu, is given special protection under state
and federal law due to population declines caused by human interaction and
environmental impacts.

����
The legislature further finds that the
handling of turtles by the public continues to occur despite existing
penalties.
�
In November 2025, a widely
circulated video depicted an individually unlawfully handling a honu, sparking
public concern and highlighting the problems of the existing enforcement
penalties.
�
Under existing law, the
minimum fine for handling an endangered species may be as low as $250.

����
The legislature believes that stronger
penalties are necessary to discourage unlawful handling and ensure meaningful
protection for endangered turtles.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
strengthen enforcement efforts and confirm the State's commitment to the
preservation of the State's endangered wildlife by
increasing
the fines for taking or harassing protected turtles in the State.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 195D-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

����
"
(a)
�

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or the
provisions of any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be guilty of:

����
(1)
�
A
misdemeanor for a first offense, punishable by a fine of [
no
]
not

less than $250 or by imprisonment of [
no
]
not
more than one year,
or both; [
and
]
provided that if the offense involved a turtle, by a
fine of not less than $2,500 or by imprisonment of not more than one year, or
both; and

����
(2)
�
A
class C felony for a second or subsequent offense and upon conviction shall be
subject to one or any combination of the following:

���������
(A)
�
A
fine of
[
no
]
not

less than $1,000;
provided that if the offense involved a turtle, a
fine of not less than $5,000;

���������
(B)
�
Imprisonment
of
[
no
]
not

more than two years; or

���������
(C)
�
Rehabilitative
community service."

����
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:

Turtles;
Honu; Take; Handling; Harassment; Fines; Increase

Description:

Increases
the fines for taking or harassing protected turtles in the State.

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