Bill > HB661

This bill modifies Hawaii's environmental review process under Chapter 343 to allow certain previously permitted activities to continue operating while undergoing environmental assessment. Specifically, the bill addresses situations where long-standing, historically permitted activities in state-managed areas like ocean recreation management areas, marine life conservation districts, and public hunting areas have been challenged as requiring additional environmental review. The new provision permits activities that have already been permitted under specific state law chapters (187A, 188, 189, 190, or 200) to continue while an environmental assessment is being conducted, with an important exception that this continuance does not apply to activities involving construction, grading, dredging, or other structural modifications to land, waterways, or marine environments. The legislature's intent is to minimize disruptions to law-abiding operations that are already strictly regulated and to reduce redundant environmental review processes for established activities. The bill recognizes that recent court decisions have broadened the definition of an environmental "action" in ways that were not originally intended, potentially jeopardizing existing regulated operations. The legislation aims to provide a practical solution that maintains environmental protection while preventing unnecessary administrative burdens on existing, compliant activities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=661&year=2026