Bill > HB1137

This bill updates Hawaii's legal definition of "beach restoration" in response to climate change and sea level rise projections. The legislation expands the previous narrow definition, which only referred to sand placement, to now include three broader categories of beach preservation activities: (1) maintaining and improving beaches and dune systems through management of sand and native dune vegetation, (2) placing sand on eroded beaches from approved external sources (with or without stabilizing structures), and (3) removing abandoned materials from beaches and dunes that could potentially harm public health or coastal ecosystems. The bill's context is grounded in scientific findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Hawaii's climate change commission, which project significant sea level rise (between 3.9 and 5.9 feet) by 2100. By broadening the definition, the legislation aims to support the state's duty to preserve beaches as a public trust resource, recognizing their cultural importance and natural resilience against coastal flooding. The new definition will take effect on July 1, 2025, providing a more comprehensive approach to beach conservation and management in the face of climate change.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1137&year=2025