S.B. 304 Summary

• Establishes a visitor impact fee program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources, effective July 1, 2025, requiring visitors age 15 and older to purchase a license before visiting state parks, beaches, forests, hiking trails, or other natural areas on state land.

• Sets the visitor impact fee amount to be determined by rule (with a blank to be filled in), with increases permitted no more frequently than once every five years.

• Creates the visitor impact fee special fund (effective July 1, 2023) to receive fee revenue (minus collection costs), fines, and appropriations, which shall be allocated for environmental restoration, climate resilience projects, invasive species control, program administration, and grants to counties and nonprofit organizations (capped at 50% of annual revenue).

• Imposes civil fines for visiting state natural areas without a license, with enforcement delayed until at least five years after the effective date to allow for public education and implementation.

• Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to submit a strategic implementation plan to the legislature by December 1, 2023, and annual reports on how funds restored and protected Hawaii's natural resources.