SB519 • 2026

RELATING TO AQUATIC LIFE.

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Sponsor: RICHARDS, CHANG, Fevella, Wakai
Last action: 2026-01-21
Official status: Re-Referred to WLA/EDT, JDC.
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 AQUATIC LIFE.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO AQUATIC LIFE.
DLNR; Division of Aquatic Resources; Marine Resources; Aquaculture Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to amend the definition of "aquarium purposes", in Hawaii Administrative Rules, to allow a bona fide aquaculture entity or scientific research entity to collect aquatic life without a permit so long as the aquatic life remains in the county in which it was collected while it is alive.

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.

Bill History

2026-01-21 S
Re-Referred to WLA/EDT, JDC.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-21 S
Referred to WTL/EDT, JDC.
2025-01-17 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-01-17 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO AQUATIC LIFE.
DLNR; Division of Aquatic Resources; Marine Resources; Aquaculture
Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to amend the definition of "aquarium purposes", in Hawaii Administrative Rules, to allow a bona fide aquaculture entity or scientific research entity to collect aquatic life without a permit so long as the aquatic life remains in the county in which it was collected while it is alive.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB519

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

519

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to aquatic life
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that the division of aquatic resources (DAR) of the
department of land and natural resources requires a special activity permit for
each collection of any form of marine life taken from within the West Hawaii
regional fisheries management area.
�

Existing language requires the DAR to issue a special activity permit
for the collection of aquatic life for all purposes, including aquaculture
breeding purposes.
�
This requirement
overburdens the DAR and creates unreasonable delays that hinder aquacultural
research.

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Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to
require the department of the land and natural resources to amend the
definition of "aquarium purposes" in Hawaii Administrative Rules to
allow for a bona fide aquaculture entity or a bona fide scientific research
entity to collect aquatic life without a permit; provided that the aquatic life
remains in the county in which it was collected while it is alive.

����
SECTION 2.
�

The department of land and natural resources shall amend the definition
of "aquarium purposes" in section 13-60.4-3, Hawaii Administrative
Rules to mean: "to hold aquatic life alive in a state of captivity,
whether as pets, for public exhibition, or for sale for these purposes, except
where aquatic life is collected by a bona fide aquaculture entity or a bona
fide scientific research entity and remains in the county in which the aquatic
life was collected while the aquatic life is alive."

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SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DLNR;
Division of Aquatic Resources; Marine Resources; Aquaculture

Description:

Requires
the Department of Land and Natural Resources to amend the definition of
"aquarium purposes", in Hawaii Administrative Rules, to allow a bona
fide aquaculture entity or scientific research entity to collect aquatic life
without a permit so long as the aquatic life remains in the county in which it
was collected while it is alive.

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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.