HB2166 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii Environmental Protection Agency within the Department of Land and Natural Resources, headed by a Director of Environmental Protection appointed by the governor by January 1, 2025.

• Transfers 17 environmental regulatory functions from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the new agency, including pesticide regulation, waste management, air and water pollution control, and environmental quality oversight.

• Creates a Hawaii Environmental Protection Agency Special Fund to receive legislative appropriations, public and private contributions, and interest earnings for personnel, operating, and administrative costs.

• Establishes a transfer completion date no later than December 31, 2026, by which all environmental functions, assets, contracts, records, and employees must transfer to the new agency while preserving employee civil service status and benefits.

• Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish and operate the agency, with authorization to exceed the state general fund expenditure ceiling.