Bill > SB673

This bill establishes the Environmental Stewardship Fee Program within Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources to collect a fee from visitors aged 15 and older who want to visit state parks, beaches, forests, hiking trails, or other natural areas. Beginning in July 2027, visitors will be required to purchase an annual license, with the goal of generating funding to protect and restore Hawaii's natural resources from the impacts of heavy tourism. The program will create a special fund that receives revenue from license fees, fines, and a portion of transient accommodations tax, which will be used to support environmental restoration projects, such as protecting marine and terrestrial ecosystems, increasing climate change resilience, controlling invasive species, and planting native species. The department can use these funds to directly implement projects, provide grants to counties and nonprofit organizations, and match federal grants, with the stipulation that these funds complement but do not replace existing environmental funding. The bill requires annual reporting to the legislature about the fund's environmental impacts and appropriates funding for program staff and strategic planning. The licensing requirement includes provisions for proving Hawaii residency to exempt local residents, and penalties for non-compliance will not begin until at least five years after the act's implementation to allow for public education and system establishment.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=673&year=2026