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Policy and Legislation

Take a look at what Surfrider Hawai'i is working on for the 2025 Legislative session

Stoked on Civics 2025 (1)

Over 3,000 bills are introduced each year at the state level. These bills govern everything from how tax payer money is spent to laws that help protect our ocean, waves, and beaches throughout Hawaiʻi. In addition to state-wide legislation, each of the four counties in Hawaiʻi (Kauaʻi, Maui, Hawaiʻi Island, and the City and County of Honolulu/Oʻahu) pass laws that govern action at the County level. Our local chapters on each island lead and prioritize county-level legislation, while state level legislation is a combined effort led by the Hawaiʻi Regional Manager. Below are our 2025 priority bills at the Hawaiʻi state level. 

Where are we at in Legislative Session?

April 7-14th is legislative recess followed by conference which is a two week period where decision-makers get together across chambers to find a path forward for all the bills that have made it through all the committee hearings in the past months. This is where amendments made in the Senate and House chambers will be reconciled. This work is done behind closed doors but once legislators reach an agreed upon bill, there is often an opportunity for the public to comment on the reconciled bill. 

 

Jump to bills on:

 


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Plastic-Pollution

Phase out small plastic toiletry bottles in lodging establishments: HB 348

With nearly 10 million visitors in 2024, the tourism industry is a substantial source of Hawaiʻi’s plastic pollution. This bill prohibits plastic single-use plastic toiletries in hotels, vacation rentals, and other tourist accommodations. Not only would this bill make a sustainable industry standard, but hotels would actually save money in the process by switching to refillable dispensers.

Current Status: 

  • In conference

Past Hearings: 

 

 

coast_n_climate

Expand definition of Beach Restoration: HB 1137

In response to accelerating beach loss and increasing sea levels, this bill updates the state’s beach restoration policy to include managing native vegetation and removing abandoned materials that threaten the ecosystem. This update will make it possible for existing Beach Fund resources to support a broader range of efforts to restore and maintain beaches and dunes.

*Concerning recent amendments we are monitoring.

Current Status:

  • In conference

Past Hearings: 


 

 

HB 1137 Resources:

Track & Read Bill                     

Changes to Environmental Review Process: SB 1074-OPPOSE

The Hawaiʻi Environmental Policy Act (HEPA) is one of the state’s bedrock environmental laws, requiring an analysis of an action or project’s impact on the environment before proceeding. This bill would allow previously permitted projects to continue operating for up to a year before the environmental review process has been completed. Read our testimony here (page 120)

Current Status:

  • In conference

Past Hearings: 


  • Passed through House of Representatives
  • Passed through Senate 

 

 

 

 

SB 1074 Resources:

Track & Read Bill                     

Changes to shoreline permitting : SB 732-OPPOSE

 House Bill 732 seeks to amend Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) chapter 205A to increase the valuation thresholds for determining whether a project in a Special Management Area (SMA) may apply for a minor SMA permit or whether it must apply for a SMA use permit. 

The SMA use permit creates a critical process that protects Hawaiʻiʻs shorelines from developments, activities, and uses that would potentially threaten public trust resources and public access. This bill would allow land uses and activities that were previously subject to SMA Major permitting process, including rigorous review by federal, state, county agencies and the public, to avoid this important process. 

As it stands, already many developers and investors have consistently distorted and taken advantage of the SMA requirements. If the objective is to protect our coastlines and communities, in itʻs current form, this bill would be a step in the wrong direction.

 

Current Status:

  • In conference

Past Hearings: 


  • Passed through House of Representatives
  • Passed through Senate 

 

 

 

 

HB 732 Resources:

Track & Read Bill                     

Clean Water

Clean-Water

Our Goal- Reduce the Impact of Cesspools on Coastal Waters in Hawaiʻi

Hawaii’s 88,000 cesspools are one of the biggest threats to water quality across the state, discharging 53 mgd sewage into coastal waters. In recent years, Surfrider has played a key role in successfully urging the state government to finally move away from relying on these antiquated and ineffective systems for managing household wastewater. A state-level Cesspool Task Force has been established to develop a workable plan for getting all Hawaii residents off of cesspools by 2050 that includes identifying priority areas for conversion and recommendations for new treatment options. While this work is ongoing, Surfrider has been supporting new legislation every year to further the state’s progress towards meeting the 2050 goal.

Fund UH to evaluate affordable wastewater technologies: HB 736 HD1 SD1

Hawai‘i can save cesspool owners and governments money by adopting cost-effective wastewater solutions without compromising water quality. Solving Hawaiʻi’s wastewater problem will require innovation.  These bills establish a three-year pilot program at the University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center to test sustainable wastewater solutions. 

Current Status:

  • In conference

Past Hearings: 

  • Passed out of Senate 
  • Passed out of House of Representatives

Bill Resources

Increase financial assistance for cesspool conversions: HB879 HD1 SD1

HB879 strengthens the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project by increasing the maximum grant amount from $20,000 to $30,000. Given the rising costs of conversion, this adjustment provides essential support to low- and moderate-income homeowners, helping them meet state-mandated cesspool conversion deadlines while alleviating financial strain. Additionally, this bill funds administrative support within the Department of Health, ensuring effective implementation and outreach for the program.

Current Status:

  • In conference

Past Hearings: 

  • Passed out of Senate 
  • Passed out of House of Representatives

Bill Resources

Learn how to submit testimony!

When a bill is scheduled for hearing, you may submit testimony.  First you must register on the Capitol website here to create a log-in account. Along with testimony, log-in accounts also allow users to track individual bills and to receive hearing notifications by email.

Registration requires the following information: your name, email, and a password for the log-in account.  After creating your account for the Hawaiʻi State Legislature website, you may submit your testimony on any bill you want!

Follow these testimony tips to make the most impact!

  • Make it personal- Tell a story of how this measure impacts you. 

  • Back it up with evidence or data- Even if that data is your own personal observations

  • Leverage other testimony- Take a look at previous testimony submitted on the bill page under 'Testimony' on the right for help on crafting your talking points.

  • Submit 24 hours PRIOR to the hearing to ensure your testimony gets reviewed by the committee

When you are ready to submit testimony, follow these steps: 

  1. Login to your account
  2. Click the “submit testimony” button
  3. Enter bill or measure #
  4. Click “Support”
  5. Enter your affiliation
  6. Select method (written / in person / zoom)
  7. Attach or enter testimony

 

2025 VICTORIES

Beach Access

Beach-Access

VICTORY- Protect free parking and ocean access at Ala Wai Boat Harbor, Stop SB 364

Surfrider O'ahu Chapter along with Save Ala Wai Surf Parking organized community members to oppose and block this effort and SB 364 was deferred on February 3rd, 2025 in the Committee on Water and Land. Companion HB 210 was never scheduled a hearing.

LINK TO CAMPAIGN VICTORY PAGE

 

 

Bill Resources

Save Kakaʻako Makai, Stop SB 534/HB 605- Oppose!

SB 534 and HB 605 are part of an Office of Hawaiian Affairs proposal for Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority to approve residential development in the Kakaʻako Makai area. If approved, it would allow other parcel owners to build similar 400 foot towers along Ala Moana Blvd. In 2006, lawmakers banned residential development on lands makai of Ala Moana Boulevard. This bill would lift that restriction. 

This area has complex environmental concerns- history as garbage incinerator and dump site, labeled a “contaminated brownfield” by EPA. Disruption from construction of such areas, especially for structural supports for 400ft towers, will likely result in seepage of these contaminants into surrounding recreational waters (e.g. Kewalo Basin, Ala Moana Beach Park, Sand Island, etc.) and impact marine life (consumable) and protected species (e.g. green sea turtles, monk seals, dolphins, etc.) that frequent the coastal area. 

 

Current Status:

Waste-to-Energy Facilities: SB 964-OPPOSE

Although Waste-to-Energy Facilities are framed as a step toward a 100% renewable energy future, the reality of these facilities is that they’re harmful to the environment and threaten the cleanliness of our air and water. This bill proposes a public-private partnership that would help fund the construction of multiple trash incinerator facilities across our islands. These facilities produce harmful toxic ash as a byproduct of burning trash for energy, which risks the contamination of our groundwater and our oceans. 

Current Status:

  • Was not scheduled final hearing in Senate and the bill has died. 

 

 

SB 964 Resources:

Track & Read Bill