Bill > SB3147

This bill authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to approve and oversee the operation of conservation banks, which are sites established to restore, create, enhance, or protect populations of threatened, endangered, candidate, or proposed species and their habitats, generating "credits" that can be purchased by entities needing to offset unavoidable harm to these species. It defines key terms like "bank sponsor" (the entity operating a conservation bank), "conservation bank instrument" (the agreement outlining the bank's terms), and "credit" (a unit representing ecological benefits). The bill also amends the membership and responsibilities of the Endangered Species Recovery Committee, expanding its consultation role to include conservation banks and adjusting its review processes to ensure the scientific basis and effectiveness of these conservation efforts, ultimately aiming to increase certainty, expedite project reviews, and make project costs more predictable for those requiring mitigation for impacts on protected species.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=3147&year=2026