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SB2372Introduced in the Senate

Relating To Trees.

Engrossed

Introduced by Mike Gabbard, District 21

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Establishes base selection criteria for designating exceptional trees. Establishes the significant tree designation, selection criteria, and related processes. Establishes the State Arborist Advisory Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. Requires County Arborist Advisory Committees to have at least five members, adopt new exceptional tree selection criteria, and designate significant trees. Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to cooperate with State and County Arborist Advisory Committees to carry out the Exceptional Trees Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Where it stands

Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 762).

April 27, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

SenateStage: Senate Judiciary: Passed, With Amendments · February 27, 2026

4

Yes

1

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

5 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

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See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Joy San Buenaventura2Yes
Stanley Chang9Yes
Karl Rhoads13Yes
Mike Gabbard21Yes
Brenton Awa23No

Bill history

  1. Pending Introduction.

  2. Introduced and passed First Reading.

  3. Referred to AEN/WLA, JDC.

  4. The committee(s) on AEN/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 3:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.

  5. The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  6. 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.

  7. Reported from AEN/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2644) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

  8. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.

  9. The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-27-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  10. The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

  11. Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3011) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).

  12. 48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.

  13. Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

  14. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 219) in amended form (SD 2).

  15. Pass First Reading

  16. Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 17

  17. Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 03-17-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  18. The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Woodson.

  19. Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1238-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

  20. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Pierick voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia voting no (1) and none excused (0).

  21. Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  22. The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Sayama, Cochran.

  23. Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1832-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.

  24. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 04-10-26.

  25. Deferred one day 04-14-26.

  26. Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting no (2) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

  27. Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 650).

  28. Senate disagrees with House amendments.

  29. Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).

  30. Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Lee, C., Rhoads Co-Chairs; Richards.

  31. Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 762).

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