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SB2478Introduced in the Senate

Proposing An Amendment To Article I Of The Hawaii State Constitution To Recognize And Protect The Inherent And Inalienable Right Of All People To Clean Water And Air, A Healthful Environment And Climate And Healthy Native Ecosystems And Beaches.

IntroducedSenate Judiciary

Introduced by Mike Gabbard, District 21

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate and healthy native ecosystems and beaches, shall be protected and shall not be infringed. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Where it stands

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

February 20, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

SenateStage: Senate Agriculture and Environment: Passed, With Amendments · February 13, 2026

4

Yes

0

No

1

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.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Tim Richards4Yes
Lynn Decoite7Absent
Karl Rhoads13Yes
Mike Gabbard21Yes
Brenton Awa23Yes

Bill history

  1. Introduced.

  2. Passed First Reading.

  3. Referred to AEN, JDC/WAM.

  4. The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 4:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

  5. The committee(s) on AEN deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 4:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.

  6. The committee(s) on AEN has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-13-26 3:10PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.

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

  8. Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2498) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

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

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