Bill
Bill > HB2592
summary
Introduced
01/28/2026
01/28/2026
In Committee
02/18/2026
02/18/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Clarifies the powers of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority so that it may carry out its intended duties regarding land use on Mauna Kea. Part II: Transfers as a matter of law certain real property interests in the Mauna Kea lands to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. Part III: Requires the University of Hawaii to transfer the various Mauna Kea astronomical observatory conservation district use permits to the astronomical observatories. Part IV: Provides that the existing plans and administrative rules adopted or developed by the University of Hawaii under which Mauna Kea is currently governed remain in effect until plans and administrative rules adopted by the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority take effect. Part V: Clarifies that the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority has state sovereign immunity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
AI Summary
This bill clarifies the powers and responsibilities of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, an entity established to manage the sacred and ecologically significant mountain. It ensures that the Authority can effectively carry out its duties by transferring certain land interests on Mauna Kea to it as a matter of law, and it requires the University of Hawaii to transfer existing permits for astronomical observatories to those observatories. The bill also stipulates that current plans and rules governing Mauna Kea will remain in effect until the Authority adopts its own, and it clarifies that the Authority possesses state sovereign immunity, meaning it is protected from lawsuits in the same way other state agencies are.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice
Sponsors (7)
Greggor Ilagan (D)*,
Kirstin Kahaloa (D)*,
Jeanné Kapela (D)*,
Susan Keohokapu-Lee Loy (D)*,
Matthias Kusch (D)*,
Nicole Lowen (D)*,
David Tarnas (D)*,
Last Action
House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Hearing (14:00:00 2/26/2026 Conference Room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE) (on 02/26/2026)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2592&year=2026 |
| HB2592_HD1_TESTIMONY_JHA_02-26-26_ | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/Testimony/HB2592_HD1_TESTIMONY_JHA_02-26-26_.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2592_HD1_.HTM |
| Committee Report HB2592_HD1_HSCR464-26_ | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/CommReports/HB2592_HD1_HSCR464-26_.pdf |
| HB2592_TESTIMONY_WAL_02-05-26_ | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/Testimony/HB2592_TESTIMONY_WAL_02-05-26_.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2592_.HTM |
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