Bill > HB651

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for conservation banking in Hawaii, providing a mechanism for protecting endangered, threatened, candidate, and proposed species through a credit-based system. The legislation authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to operate and approve conservation banks, which are sites dedicated to restoring, creating, enhancing, or protecting wildlife habitats. These conservation banks allow entities that need to mitigate environmental impacts (such as through an incidental take license) to purchase credits that represent ecological improvements or species protection. The bill defines key terms like "credit," "credit bundling," and "credit stacking," and outlines detailed requirements for establishing a conservation bank, including the need for a resource management plan, performance standards, monitoring requirements, and long-term management strategies. Additionally, the bill modifies the Endangered Species Recovery Committee's composition and responsibilities, adding conservation banks to their review and recommendation process. The legislation aims to increase certainty and predictability for project developers while providing a structured approach to environmental conservation, with the ultimate goal of protecting Hawaii's vulnerable species and their habitats. Importantly, the bill explicitly excludes aquatic life and their habitats from this conservation banking framework.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=651&year=2025