Bill > SB1178

This bill makes permanent the Hawaii Carbon Smart Land Management Assistance Program, which is administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and appropriates funds to support it. The program, originally a pilot, aims to incentivize carbon sequestration activities through contracts that compensate participants for eligible practices that improve soil health, reduce carbon emissions, and store carbon. The DLNR will coordinate with other agencies to administer the program, provide financial incentives, monitor contract compliance, and make modeling and methodology resources publicly available. Incentive contracts can range from one to thirty years, with compensation directly related to the contract length. The bill prioritizes activities that are cost-effective, provide co-benefits like job creation and food security, and align with community priorities. It also defines terms such as "eligible land," "eligible practices," and "incentive contract," and outlines "Phase I activities" (like reforestation and conservation tillage) and "Phase II activities" (like perennial biofuel feedstocks and methane capture) that the program will support. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2050.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1178&year=2026