HB 956 Summary

• Establishes a natural resource management special fund to address impacts to Hawaii's natural resources and manage natural and open space resources through protection, restoration, and climate resilience projects.

• Creates a natural resource management commission composed of state agency heads, county representatives, and nonprofit experts to oversee fund disbursements, with administrative costs capped at 3% of annual allocations.

• Allocates $30,000,000 annually from transient accommodations tax (TAT) revenues to the natural resource management special fund and $60,000,000 to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

• Repeals the existing $3,000,000 annual TAT allocation to the special land and development fund.

• Appropriates $30,000,000 for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 for the natural resource management fund and commission staffing, and $60,000,000 for Hawaii Tourism Authority operations; requires annual reporting to the legislature on fund expenditures and outcomes.