HI HB318

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to operate and approve conservation banks for protecting threatened, endangered, candidate, or proposed species and their habitats

Adds a new part to Chapter 195D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, establishing a framework for conservation banking as compensatory mitigation

Defines key terms including "conservation bank" (sites established to restore, create, enhance, or protect species populations), "credits" (units representing species increases or ecological improvements), and "bank sponsor" (public or private entity operating a bank)

Allows conservation bank credits to be used by incidental take licensees with habitat conservation plans to offset adverse impacts to protected species

Takes effect upon approval