HI HB2182

Establishes the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force within the office of planning to develop strategies for carbon sequestration, soil health, and urban tree canopy expansion in Hawaii.

Sets a statewide target to sequester more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than the State produces by 2045, considering offsets from local sequestration through long-term sinks and reservoirs.

Repeals Act 33, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017 (the Carbon Farming Task Force) and replaces it with the new permanent Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force with expanded membership including representatives from state agencies, universities, counties, environmental nonprofits, and agricultural associations.

Requires the task force to submit a preliminary report by 20 days before the 2023 legislative session and annual reports thereafter, addressing agricultural practices, benchmarks for greenhouse gas neutrality, certification criteria, incentive mechanisms, and urban tree canopy expansion.

Appropriates $150,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2018-2019 to fund the greenhouse gas sequestration task force and related efforts, effective July 1, 2018.