HB 1319 Summary

• Establishes green infrastructure objectives and policies in the Hawaii State Planning Act to incorporate vegetation, trees, and sustainable design in state facility systems, infrastructure, and transit projects

• Adds four sustainability design objectives: minimizing stormwater runoff, reducing urban heat-island effect, removing air pollutants, and sequestering greenhouse gas emissions

• Adds two quality-of-life design objectives: creating visual and sound barriers and incorporating live foliage, trees, and Hawaiian plants with priority for non-invasive Polynesian introduced and Hawaiian plant species

• Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development in partnership with the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force to submit a report by 20 days before the 2026 legislative session with implementation recommendations

• Appropriates unspecified general revenue funds for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to establish full-time equivalent policy analyst positions and provide program funding, effective July 1, 2025