H.B. 1802 Summary

• Establishes a visitor green fee program requiring nonresidents aged 15 and older to pay a $50 fee to obtain a license to access Hawaii's state parks, beaches, forests, trails, and natural areas, effective July 1, 2023.

• Creates the Hawaii Environmental Legacy Commission to oversee allocation of collected fees, composed of representatives from nonprofit environmental organizations, state agencies, native Hawaiian community, tourism industry, and a youth representative.

• Establishes the Hawaii Environmental Legacy Special Fund to receive all visitor green fee revenue, with at least 50 percent annually allocated as grants to local governments and nonprofits, and no more than 50 percent to state agencies.

• Directs fund allocation toward achieving the 2030 Aloha+ Challenge natural resource management targets, including protection and restoration of terrestrial and marine resources, climate change resilience, invasive species removal, and interpretive programs.

• Requires the department to publish annual reports by January 2025 detailing how the special fund achieves conservation targets and benefits to residents, visitors, and natural resources.