HB 442 Summary

• Establishes a visitor green fee program requiring visitors age 15 and older to purchase an annual $50 license to access state parks, beaches, state-owned forests, hiking trails on state-owned land, and other state-owned natural areas, effective July 1, 2024.

• Creates a visitor green fee special fund to receive license fees, penalties, appropriations, and donations, with revenues allocated to protect, restore, and manage Hawaii's natural and cultural resources.

• Establishes an 11-member environmental legacy commission to guide fund disbursements and award grants (at least 25% but not more than 50% of annual revenue) to nonprofit organizations and local governments for environmental projects.

• Imposes civil fines on visitors who violate the license requirement, with fines beginning no more than five years after the Act's effective date, to be enforced by circuit court or the department after a hearing.

• Appropriates $3 million in general revenues for fiscal year 2023-2024 to the visitor green fee special fund and $1 million from the fund for establishing the environmental legacy commission and developing a strategic implementation plan.