How lawmakers are addressing climate change

Illustrating how important the issue is to an island state, around 45% of all bills passed by the Hawaiʻi Legislature in 2025 addressed climate change. The most significant measure signed into law by Gov.Josh Green instituted a “green fee” by increasing hotel room taxes to help generate an estimated $100 million in annual revenue to support natural resource protection and climate resilience efforts. The bill is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation.

Quick Facts

Threatened species: Hawaiʻi has a high proportion of endangered plants and animals because of its unique and isolated ecosystems.
Diversity: The Hawaiian Islands claim 10 of the world’s 14 climate zones, the only place on Earth with so many concentrated in one small area.
Wildfires: The wildfires of 2023 that destroyed much of Lahaina killed at least 102 people, destroyed over 2,200 structures and cost billions of dollars in property damage — making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than 100 years.
Climate: The Hawai’i Clean Energy Initiative calls for achieving 100% renewable energy electricity generation by 2045.

Climate Bills

In Focus

Here are all of the bills considered in the current session involving climate change and the environment. Highlighted bills are identified by Civil Beat as among the most significant this year. “In progress” status includes bills that may have been deferred but are technically still alive until the end of the two-year Legislature.

HB 1949 In Progress

RELATING TO THE GREEN FEE.

Adrian Tam

Establishes the Green Fee Transparency and Accountability Program and Green Fee Resiliency Impact Dashboard, to be administered by the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

HB 1921 In Progress

DOH; Existing Cesspools; Additional Bedrooms; Priority Level 3 Area

Luke Evslin

Allows an existing cesspool that lawfully serves a single dwelling or dwelling unit in a priority level 3 area to continue serving that dwelling or dwelling unit and additional bedrooms constructed on the same parcel and within the existing dwelling or dwelling unit, subject to certain conditions. Authorizes the Department of Health to adopt rules and restrict additional bedrooms where evidence demonstrates that continued cesspool use impacts water quality or human health. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

HB 1774 In Progress

RELATING TO CENTRALIZED ACCESS TO RESOURCES.

Tina Grandinetti

Requires and appropriates funds for the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to develop, implement, and maintain a centralized resource website to connect residents to support and resources to address affordability, health, safety, and the impacts of climate change. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

SB 2401 In Progress

RELATING TO REGIONAL SHORELINE MITIGATION DISTRICTS.

Lorraine Inouye

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to plan and serve in a coordinating role to develop shoreline adaptation pathways plans for regional shoreline mitigation districts designated by OPSD. Requires OPSD to coordinate shoreline adaptation pathways planning with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, applicable county and federal agencies, and the community. Requires OPSD to collaborate with community stakeholders and consider certain criteria when developing a shoreline adaptation pathways plan. Requires OPSD, upon finalization of a shoreline adaptation pathways plan to transmit the plan to the Board of Land and Natural Resources for approval. Authorizes BLNR to adopt a shoreline adaptation pathways plan after determining that the plan satisfies certain requirements. Establishes procedures for the review of state and county permits associated with regional shoreline mitigation districts. Establishes the support and integration of shoreline adaptation pathways planning as a policy under the Coastal Zone Management Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

HB 1737

AGRICULTURE; AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS; ZONING; FARM DWELLING; FARM EMPLOYEE HOUSING

Committee: House Standing Committee on Housing

In Progress

AGRICULTURE; AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS; ZONING; FARM DWELLING; FARM EMPLOYEE HOUSINGCommittee: House Standing Committee on Housing

SB 3154

DOT; NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT; NEPA ASSIGNMENT

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Transportation

In Progress

DOT; NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT; NEPA ASSIGNMENTCommittee: Senate Standing Committee on Transportation

HB 1800

STATE BUDGET; EXECUTIVE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET