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Oceans Task Force

The Oceans Task Force advocates for legislation prohibiting sunscreens with harmful ingredients to reefs, legislation that prohibits the gathering of aquarium fish from Hawaii’s waters, and legislation that accelerates the conversion of Hawaii’s 88,000 cesspools, which are polluting groundwater and surface waters. To learn more about bills relevant to this task force, please contact Jocelyn Herbert at JHerbert@resourceslegacyfund.org.

Page is currently under construction, stay tuned!

Oceans Bill Tracker

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Bill Details

Oceans Task Force BILLS OF INTEREST

(Hearing date/time change) SB2205 Amends state boating law policy to include a provision to promote and attain every person's right to a clean and healthful environment. Prohibits the Department of Land and Natural Resources from renewing a commercial use permit if renewal would cause nearshore water overcrowding or harm, or potential threats to, the environment.

Oceans Task Force BILLS OF INTEREST

HB1893 Amends Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to increase the cesspool compliance pilot grant project grant amount and update a reference. Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2024-2025 and to establish positions to implement the pilot grant project.

Oceans Task Force BILLS OF INTEREST

HB1898 Establishes and appropriates funds for two full-time positions to implement the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project established by Act 153, SLH 2022, and makes an appropriation for the project for FY 2024-2025. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded.

Oceans Task Force BILLS OF INTEREST

HB2066 Establishes a cesspool conversion on-bill financing program to be administered by the Hawaii green infrastructure authority to provide low-interest loans to eligible homeowners for the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools.

Oceans Task Force BILLS OF INTEREST

(Hearing date/time change) SB2053 Appropriates funds for the construction and operation of non-chemical sunscreen dispensers on all state beaches. Allows the Department of Land and Natural Resources to contract or form a partnership with private parties to assist with the maintenance and management of sunscreen dispensers at all state beaches. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded. Makes an appropriation.

Oceans Task Force BILLS OF INTEREST

HB1892 Part II: Requires certain priority level 1 cesspools to be upgraded, converted, or connected before 1/1/2035, and priority level 2 cesspools to be upgraded, converted, or connected before 1/1/2045, rather than before 1/1/2050. Part III: Appropriates funds to implement the cesspool compliance pilot grant project established pursuant to Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022. Part IV: Establishes an income tax credit for the cost of upgrading or converting a qualified cesspool to a director of health-approved wastewater system or connecting to a sewerage system.

Oceans Task Force BILLS OF INTEREST

April 3, 2024 at 2:00:00 AM

SB2322 Requires the Department of Health to continue water sampling and analysis of Tier 1 beaches during brown water advisories, with certain exceptions and under certain conditions.
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