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Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

SB 839: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 839 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 17, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES. Primary sponsor: Dru Kanuha (Democratic), Stanley Chang (Democratic), Mike Gabbard (Democratic), Lorraine Inouye (Democratic), Angus McKelvey (Democratic). It lists 4 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (January 21, 2026): Re-Referred to WLA, JDC.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Establishes a criminal penalty and monetary fines for aquarium fishing violations. Clarifies that each fish or aquatic life specimen taken in violation of certain fishing laws regarding aquarium fish and the possession and use of prohibited explosives, electrofishing devices, and poisonous substances constitutes a separate offense.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 9

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Dru KanuhaPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate3
Stanley ChangPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate9
Mike GabbardPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate21
Lorraine InouyePrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate1
Angus McKelveyPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate6
Joy San BuenaventuraCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate2
Brandon ElefanteCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate16
Tim RichardsCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate4
Glenn WakaiCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate15

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Re-Referred to WLA, JDC.
  2. Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
  3. The committee on WTL deferred the measure.
  4. The committee(s) on WTL has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
  5. Referred to WTL, JDC.
  6. Passed First Reading.
  7. Introduced.

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source