# Hawaii SB 2975: RELATING TO MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

Hawaii SB 2975, RELATING TO MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Chris Lee (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-12 (Pass First Reading) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2975-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 2975
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-03-12, Pass First Reading
- Sponsor: Chris Lee (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: DLNR, Marine Life Conservation Districts, Oahu, Closure Authority, Commercial Activity, Rules, WAL, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (30 yes, 3 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to close all or portions of any marine life conservation district for various periods of time and to adopt rules for the regulation of commercial activity within a marine life conservation district; provided that the marine life conservation district is located on or adjacent to the shores of Oahu. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Chris Lee (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: C.

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 23 | 2 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 3 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | Senate | The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-03-12: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2026-03-12: Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 17 (House)
- 2026-03-10: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 331) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2026-03-06: Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2893) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: One Day Notice 03-10-26. (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey. (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2663) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN. (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN. (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Inouye ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang. (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: The committee(s) on WLA has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-18-26 1:01PM; CR 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-08: The committee(s) on WLA deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: The committee(s) on WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Referred to WLA, CPN. (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2975_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2975_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2975_.PDF)
- SB2975_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2975_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2975_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2975_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2975_.PDF)
- [SB2975_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2975_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2964-2026)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2975-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).