Legislature 2026: Last Bills Standing and Upcoming Nominations
By Wayne Tanaka, Chapter Director | Reading time: 3 minutes
Mahalo nui to everyone who has taken the time to submit testimony, spread the word, or otherwise engage in the legislative process this year! Sadly, some of the most promising bills have already died, such as SB2002, which aimed to free the Water Commission from political influence; SB2046 SD2 HD1, which would have required the full cleanup of jet fuel released from the US Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; and SB3000, which sought to make Big Oil pay for its planet-destroying climate deceptions.
However, thanks to your advocacy, nearly all of the most harmful bills have been eliminated. These included measures that would sell out our food security, cultural practices, public trust resources, and climate resilience for short-sighted development priorities; facilitate the privatization of public beaches; and effectively prevent judicial review of environmental review law violations.
At the same time, several promising measures remain alive—including a bill that could help address both our skyrocketing insurance premiums and the climate crisis driving them.
Beyond legislation, a number of Governor’s nominations to key boards and commissions, such as the Land Board and Water Commission, are now pending Senate confirmation. These individuals may shape decisions affecting our water security, food systems, cultural integrity, and climate resilience for decades to come. We encourage those who care about Hawaiʻi’s future should review these nominees and share any thoughts, concerns, or questions with their Senators.
Read on below for a summary of key bills and nominations that still need our attention as the 2026 legislative session comes to a close:
Selected Bills Still in Play
Climate Justice and Making Polluters Pay
SB1166 SD2 HD2 would allow private insurers, the Hawaiʻi Property Insurance Association, and the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund to recover payouts for claims arising from climate-related disasters and extreme weather events, by filing suit against fossil fuel corporations whose decades’-long deception fueled the climate crisis that has already reached our shores.
Emergency Powers
HB2581 HD2 SD2 and SB2151 SD2 HD2 would both clarify what constitutes a “disaster” under which the Governor and mayors can exercise sweeping emergency powers. If passed, these bills would help protect environmental, cultural, and good governance laws from being arbitrarily and indefinitely suspended, due to ambiguously defined “emergencies,” such as “illegal activity” or a “need for housing.”
Biosecurity
HB1929 HD1 SD2 would fund the development of a community-driven biosecurity plan for Molokaʻi, helping protect its agriculture, water security, ecological integrity, cultural practices, and economy of the island from the devastating impacts of invasive species. With the recent discovery of a coconut rhinoceros beetle on Molokaʻi for the first time ever, this measure is both timely and absolutely critical to defending an island that still serves as a critical “kīpuka” for Hawaiian values, practices, and ways of life.
Aquarium collection
HB2101 HD1 SD1 would prohibit commercial aquarium collection in Oʻahu’s nearshore waters until new rules are established through the Division of Aquatic Resources’ Holomua Initiative. This bill will need to be strengthened in conference committee to ensure a comprehensive and permanent ban on commercial aquarium collection across the islands, including West Hawaiʻi.
Now poised to “cross over” back to their originating chambers, these measures, and others, will likely be taken up by appointed “conference committees,” to negotiate differences between their Senate and House drafts before the final Sine Die. Although public testimony is not accepted at this stage, continued community engagement with conference committee members and other legislators may be key to securing the best possible outcomes this session. Sign up for action alerts at hawaiicapitolwatch.org for key opportunities to reach out to your elected officials on these and other measures.
Governor’s Nominations of Note
Beyond passing legislation, one of the Legislature’s most important roles is the Senate’s “Advise and Consent” process, which reviews and confirms (or rejects) the Governor’s appointments to key boards and commissions.
This year, new appointments are being considered for the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR), the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM), and Land Use Commission (LUC). If confirmed, these individuals will make decisions with long-term impacts on Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural resources, water security, food security, cultural integrity, and climate resilience.
Please take some time to review their skills, backgrounds, and experiences, and reach out to your Senator to share any thoughts or comments you may have.
Riley Smith (GM692, BLNR)
Nominated for a second term. A developer and land manager from Hawaiʻi Island, he has supported controversial decisions, including accepting highly flawed environmental impact statements submitted by the US Army for its “retention” of “ceded” (i.e. stolen) Hawaiian and public land trust lands at Pōhakuloa and on Oʻahu. He also led the BLNR’s decisionmaking to approve for public hearing proposed rules to reopen West Hawaiʻi to commercial aquarium collection. Mr. Smith’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Water, Land, Culture and the Arts (WLA) Committee will take place on Wednesday, April 15, at 1pm.
Denise Iseri-Matsubara (GM636, BLNR)
Nominated for a first term after serving as an interim appointee for several months. The executive director of the Catholic Charities Housing Development Corp., Ms. Iseri-Matsubara formerly served as the director of the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) until March of 2023. There, she was known for her outspoken support of effectively selling off “ceded” and public lands for housing. Questions have also been raised regarding the extent to which HHFDC’s lands mauka of Lahaina, left fallow under Ms. Iseri-Matsubara’s tenure, contributed to the 2023 wildfire tragedy. Her confirmation hearing before the Senate WLA Committee will take place on Wednesday, April 15, at 1pm.
Moses Haia III (GM639, CWRM)
A former staff attorney and director of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp., Mr. Haia spent much of his legal career litigating or overseeing litigation involving Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, water rights, and other issues that may be particularly relevant to CWRM’s constitutional and statutory responsibilities. His confirmation hearing before the Senate WLA Committee will take place on Wednesday, April 15, at 1pm.
Nancy Carr-Smith (GM765, LUC)
Nominated for a second term. A realtor known to advocate for bills that would abdicate the LUC’s kuleana over major land use changes to the counties. She has also questioned the importance of mauka-to-makai stream flow, and failed to disclose her husband Riley Smith’s income as required under the law – until it was reported on in Environment Hawaiʻi. Most recently, Ms. Carr-Smith was also reported to be the subject of formal harassment complaints by LUC staff. Notably, with the expiration of cultural expert Kūʻike Kamakea-ʻŌhelo’s term, and assuming that the Governor’s nominations this year are approved by the Senate, every member of the LUC will have professional ties to real estate and construction interests. Ms. Carr-Smith’s confirmation hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Testimonies and Engagement Still Needed
While testimony on bills has closed, opportunities remain to weigh in on Governor’s nominations and resolutions. Be sure to voice any questions, concerns, opposition, or support regarding nominees to your Senator, including the nominees highlighted above.
Once hearing notices are posted, the testimony process is similar to bills: simply go to the capitol.hawaii.gov website, register for an account if you do not have one, sign in, and enter the measure number (e.g. “GM692”) on the measure you’d like to testify on.
Finally, as the conference committees finalize legislation, direct outreach to legislators may also be critical in shaping final outcomes
Be sure to sign up for legislative action alerts at hawaiicapitolwatch.orgif you haven’t already.