SB 3253HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii sanctuary would work with state to protect wildlife

A Hawaii nonprofit sanctuary would work with the state department to protect wildlife, and the department would help it find land for that work.

What it does

A Hawaii conservation sanctuary works with the state department to support conservation and wildlife preservation. It protects endangered species and other wildlife by operating sanctuaries in Hawaii.

The sanctuary may run businesses, hold or lease property, and make contracts to support its work. Usual rules for receiving funds do not apply to funds it receives, but chapter 42F rules apply when it contracts with others.

The state department helps the sanctuary find and access land for its work.

Argument forSanctuaries could protect endangered wildlife from Hawaii and elsewhere, giving more animals places to live and recover.

Argument againstThe sanctuary could receive funds without chapter 42F’s usual standards, which may make it harder to check how those funds are handled.

More detail

The text establishes a Hawaii conservation sanctuary as a nonprofit group that works with the department on conservation and wildlife preservation. The sanctuary supports conservation and wildlife preservation, including through related programs, and operates sanctuaries in Hawaii for endangered species and other wildlife from within and outside the state.

The sanctuary may operate businesses, hold or lease property, and make contracts to support its work. These powers belong to the Hawaii conservation sanctuary and must support its mission. Chapter 42F’s usual standards for receiving funds do not apply to funds received by the sanctuary. If it contracts with a recipient or provider, chapter 42F’s standards and other rules apply to that recipient or provider and the contract.

The department must help the sanctuary identify and access suitable land. The assistance is for the Hawaii conservation sanctuary. The land must support the sanctuary’s mission.

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Where it stands

IntroducedJan 28
Passed SenateMar 10
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJul 10

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 10Act 226, 07/10/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1328).Latest
2. Jul 10Act 226, on 07/10/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1328).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none).Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (7) and Representative(s) Alcos excused (1).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 11:35 AM; Conference Room 229.
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
9. May 1Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 12:45PM in Conference Room 229.
10. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Gabbard, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
11. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lowen, Morikawa; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Shimizu; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 218-26).
13. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
14. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 218-26) as amended in (CD 1).
15. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
16. Apr 30Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.
17. Apr 29Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 873).Minor
18. Apr 28House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Lowen, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Shimizu.
19. Apr 28Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-30-26 9:01AM; Conference Room 229.
20. Apr 24Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 742).Minor
21. Apr 23Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Gabbard, Richards Co-Chairs.
22. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 769).Minor
23. Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
24. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
25. Apr 14Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (6) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
26. Apr 10Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2147-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
27. Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
28. Apr 2The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.Minor
29. Apr 2Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
30. Mar 31Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
31. Mar 30Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1436-26), recommending referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
32. Mar 30Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Gedeon voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
33. Mar 24The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kusch, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Quinlan.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
34. Mar 20Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1303-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to EEP.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on EEP. Result: pass.Lower
35. Mar 20Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on EEP with Representative(s) Cochran, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (4) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).Minor
36. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Tuesday, 03-24-26 10:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
37. Mar 19The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Poepoe, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
38. Mar 16Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 03-19-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
39. Mar 12Pass First ReadingMinor
40. Mar 12Referred to WAL, EEP, FIN, referral sheet 17Minor
41. Mar 10Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
42. Mar 10Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 393) in amended form (SD 2).Minor
43. Mar 6Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2951) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
44. Mar 648 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
45. Mar 3The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
46. Feb 25The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
47. Feb 23The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:56AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
48. Feb 20Reported from WLA/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2625) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
49. Feb 20Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
50. Feb 11The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
51. Feb 11The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Chang, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.Minor
52. Feb 6The committee(s) on WLA/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.
53. Feb 2Referred to WLA/AEN, WAM.Minor
54. Jan 28Introduced.Minor
55. Jan 28Passed First Reading.Introduced

Environment & Energy

Issue with this bill?

SB 3253HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii sanctuary would work with state to protect wildlife

A Hawaii nonprofit sanctuary would work with the state department to protect wildlife, and the department would help it find land for that work.

What it does

The state department helps the sanctuary find and access land for its work.

Argument forSanctuaries could protect endangered wildlife from Hawaii and elsewhere, giving more animals places to live and recover.

Argument againstThe sanctuary could receive funds without chapter 42F’s usual standards, which may make it harder to check how those funds are handled.

More detail

The department must help the sanctuary identify and access suitable land. The assistance is for the Hawaii conservation sanctuary. The land must support the sanctuary’s mission.

Where do you stand?

Tell your reps

Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.

More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 28
Passed SenateMar 10
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJul 10

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 10Act 226, 07/10/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1328).Latest
2. Jul 10Act 226, on 07/10/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1328).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none).Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (7) and Representative(s) Alcos excused (1).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 11:35 AM; Conference Room 229.
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
9. May 1Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 12:45PM in Conference Room 229.
10. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Gabbard, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
11. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lowen, Morikawa; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Shimizu; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 218-26).
13. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
14. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 218-26) as amended in (CD 1).
15. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
16. Apr 30Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.
17. Apr 29Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 873).Minor
18. Apr 28House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Lowen, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Shimizu.
19. Apr 28Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-30-26 9:01AM; Conference Room 229.
20. Apr 24Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 742).Minor
21. Apr 23Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Gabbard, Richards Co-Chairs.
22. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 769).Minor
23. Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
24. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
25. Apr 14Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (6) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
26. Apr 10Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2147-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
27. Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
28. Apr 2The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.Minor
29. Apr 2Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
30. Mar 31Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
31. Mar 30Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1436-26), recommending referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
32. Mar 30Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Gedeon voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
33. Mar 24The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kusch, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Quinlan.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
34. Mar 20Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1303-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to EEP.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on EEP. Result: pass.Lower
35. Mar 20Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on EEP with Representative(s) Cochran, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (4) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).Minor
36. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Tuesday, 03-24-26 10:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
37. Mar 19The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Poepoe, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
38. Mar 16Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 03-19-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
39. Mar 12Pass First ReadingMinor
40. Mar 12Referred to WAL, EEP, FIN, referral sheet 17Minor
41. Mar 10Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
42. Mar 10Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 393) in amended form (SD 2).Minor
43. Mar 6Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2951) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
44. Mar 648 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
45. Mar 3The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
46. Feb 25The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
47. Feb 23The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:56AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
48. Feb 20Reported from WLA/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2625) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
49. Feb 20Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
50. Feb 11The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
51. Feb 11The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Chang, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.Minor
52. Feb 6The committee(s) on WLA/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.
53. Feb 2Referred to WLA/AEN, WAM.Minor
54. Jan 28Introduced.Minor
55. Jan 28Passed First Reading.Introduced

Environment & Energy

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What it does

Where do you stand?

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More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History

What it does

Where do you stand?

Choose your position

Tell your reps

More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History