Priority Bills Update

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The Sierra Club of Hawai‘i is monitoring hundreds of environmental bills in the 2020 session, but we are focusing on a few key issues relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation, replacing dirty energy with clean renewable sources, and protecting soil, freshwater resources, and lands. Since session started, we have testified on 32 bills. We just passed the triple referral bill deadline, here’s a breakdown of what on our priority list is still moving:

Sea Level Rise:

  1. Requires mandatory seller/purchaser disclosures in real estate transactions within sea level rise exposure areas (Support): HB1878, SB2534, SB2670, SB2671

  2. Amends Chapter 205A - Hawai‘i’s Coastal Zone Management Act to protect beaches and give guidance for county planning (Support): HB549, SB393, SB1113. HB1848, SB2060.

Water:

  1. Extending the issuance of revocable permits to divert stream water and allowing for direct negotiation of water leases (Oppose): HB2677

  2. Protecting O‘ahu’s drinking water from the Navy’s Red Hill fuel tanks (Support): SB2774

Energy and Transportation:

  1. Ensure that Hawai‘i’s last coal-fired power plant closes in 2022 to make Hawai‘i “Coal Free by 2023” (Support): SB700, HB2657, SB2366.

  2. Establishing 100% clean transportation goals by 2045 (Support): HB2699.

Healthy Soils (O‘ahu Group priority):

  1. Cover crop reimbursement pilot program (Support): HB2167, SB2704.

  2. DOFAW tree stock bills (Support): HB2160, SB2531.

Land Use:

  1. Weakens the authority of Land Use Commission in rezoning agricultural lands for “affordable” housing development (Oppose): SB3104, HB2542.

Unfortunately, some of our priorities have been deferred for this session:

  • HB2154- Prohibit the harvesting of aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes to protect reef ecosystems (Hawaii Island Group priority).

  • HB2194- Updating Hawai‘i’s Coastal Zone Management Act to protect beaches.