Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HCR61

Introduced
3/12/26  
Refer
3/18/26  
Report Pass
4/2/26  
Engrossed
4/2/26  
Refer
4/10/26  
Report Pass
4/22/26  

Caption

Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Work With Its Partners To Increase Investment In Policies, Incentives, Workforce, And Nursery Capacity To Reforest Hawaii's Public And Private Lands.

Impact

The resolution identifies a suite of necessary conditions for effective reforestation, such as incentivizing landowners, policy reform, stable funding, and strategic investments. It advocates for upgrading local nursery capacities to supply high-quality native seedlings essential for reforestation. The resolution recognizes that strengthening reforestation efforts can lead to increased economic opportunities while also contributing to watershed protection and ecosystem restoration. This reflects a broader acknowledgment of the forests’ value, not just for ecological functions but also for economic enhancement through sustainable management of forest resources.

Summary

HCR61 is a House Concurrent Resolution from the State of Hawaii, urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to collaborate with partners to enhance investments in policies, workforce, and nursery capacities for reforestation efforts across both public and private lands. The resolution underscores the critical role forests play in Hawaii’s water supply, cultural identity, and biodiversity, as well as their contribution to climate resilience. Identifying the degradation of native forests due to various factors, including invasive species and land-use changes, the resolution emphasizes the urgency of prioritizing reforestation to prevent further ecological and economic losses.

Contention

Although HCR61 presents a comprehensive plan to bolster Hawaii’s reforestation initiatives, it does not address potential concerns regarding implementation, funding, or the balance of state versus private interests in enforcing these reforestation policies. Questions may arise regarding the effectiveness of state interventions on private lands and the capacity of the existing workforce to meet the proposed demands for reforestation. Stakeholders may debate the adequacy of investments and whether the framework laid out will sufficiently mitigate the challenges posed by invasive species and habitat degradation in the long term. Therefore, while the resolution is ambitious in its scope, there remains uncertainty regarding actual follow-through and resource allocation.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

HI HCR40

Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources And Other State Agencies To Work With Committed Community Groups To Co-steward Community Forests Located On Public Lands For The Betterment Of The State's Forests And Communities.

HI HCR207

Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Conduct A Comprehensive Economic Analysis Of All Military-leased Lands.

HI HCR199

Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Prioritize The Restoration And Protection Of Additional Wetlands And Anchialine Pools.

HI HR35

Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources And Other State Agencies To Work With Committed Community Groups To Co-steward Community Forests Located On Public Lands For The Betterment Of The State's Forests And Communities.

HI SCR174

Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources And Other State Agencies To Work With Committed Community Groups To Co-steward Community Forests Located On Public Lands For The Betterment Of The State's Forests And Communities.

HI SR143

Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources And Other State Agencies To Work With Committed Community Groups To Co-steward Community Forests Located On Public Lands For The Betterment Of The State's Forests And Communities.

HI HR199

Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Conduct A Comprehensive Economic Analysis Of All Military-leased Lands.

HI HR191

Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Prioritize The Restoration And Protection Of Additional Wetlands And Anchialine Pools.

HI HCR166

Urging The Department Of Accounting And General Services And The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Restore Respect And Dignity To The Only Royal Palace In The Nation.

HI SCR42

Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources Division Of Forestry And Wildlife To Prioritize The Restoration And Protection Of Additional Wetlands And Anchialine Pools.

Similar Bills

NJ A1864

Requires permit and compensatory reforestation plan for development projects that result in deforestation; establishes grant program for reforestation activities by private landowners; establishes "State Compensatory Reforestation Fund."

MS SB2816

Income tax; increase amount of credit for approved reforestation practices.

MS SB2861

Income tax; increase amount of credit for approved reforestation practices.

NJ A1863

Requires State entities engaging in projects resulting in deforestation of any size to submit plan to DEP for no net loss of forested areas.

US HB528

Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act

CA AB1227

An act to add and repeal Section 21080.

US HB2709

Save Our Sequoias Act

OR SB342

Relating to small forestland owners.