# Hawaii SB 849: RELATING TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.

Hawaii SB 849, RELATING TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Dru Mamo Kanuha (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-27 (Act 098, 05/27/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1198).) (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB849-2025
- As of: 2026-10-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 849
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-05-27, Act 098, 05/27/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1198).
- Sponsor: Dru Mamo Kanuha (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: Conservation, Hawaiian Hawk, Aquatic Life, Wildlife, Land Plants, Indigenous Species, Native Ecosystems, Penalties, WAL, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (176 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Prohibits and imposes penalties for the intentional taking, harming, or killing of ʻIo (Hawaiian hawk). Increases penalties and fees for taking and killing indigenous species of aquatic life, wildlife, and land plants that are native to the State. (HD2)

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New protections and higher wildlife fines: mixed, medium. The law bars people from intentionally taking, harming, or killing an ʻio, or Hawaiian hawk, except where another law allows it. First violations of the wildlife law are misdemeanors, with fines of at least $250, up to one year in prison, or both. A second or later criminal offense within five year…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dru Mamo Kanuha (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: AQUINO
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angus L.K. McKelvey (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joy A. San Buenaventura (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Glenn Wakai (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-17 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-04 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-27 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 9 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-19 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA... | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-13 | House | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 9 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-05 | Senate | The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |

## Actions (36)

- 2025-05-27: Act 098, 05/27/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1198). (Senate)
- 2025-05-27: Act 098, on 05/27/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1198). (House)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 833). (House)
- 2025-04-17: Passed Final Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-04-16: Reconsideration of action taken on 04-08-25 in disagreeing to the House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-16: Senate agrees with House amendments. Placed on the calendar for Final Reading on 04-17-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-16: One Day Notice 04-17-25 (Senate)
- 2025-04-16: Received notice of reconsideration and Senate agreement (Sen. Com. No. 807). (House)
- 2025-04-08: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 585). (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 774). (House)
- 2025-04-04: Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-04-02: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1759) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-02: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 04-04-25. (House)
- 2025-03-27: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Todd. (House)
- 2025-03-25: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 03-27-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-19: Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1372) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. (House)
- 2025-03-19: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-03-13: The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson. (House)
- 2025-03-10: Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 03-13-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 209) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1027) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: One Day Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 266) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on AEN added the measure to the public hearing scheduled on 02-05-25 1:03PM; CR 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Referred to AEN, JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB849_HD2_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB849_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1198_.PDF)
- SB849_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB849_HD1_.HTM)
- SB849_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB849_HD2_.HTM)
- SB849_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB849_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB849_HD2_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB849_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1198_.PDF)
- [SB849_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB849_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB849_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB849_HD2_.HTM)
- [SB849_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB849_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [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-SB849-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).