Hawaii ‘visitor impact fee’ bill moves forward
A “visitor impact fee” bill that would require any nonresident aged 15 or older to pay for an annual license to visit a state park, beach, forest, hiking trail or other natural area is still alive.
Senate Bill 304 moved out of the House Committee on Finance on Wednesday with amendments. Committee chair Rep. Kyle Yamashita (D, Spreckelsville-Upcountry Maui) called the bill “a work in progress,” and said the plan is to “blank out” the potential cost of the license and discuss it further.
Initially there were eight House and Senate proposals to implement so-called green fees, and most supported requiring tourists over the age of 15 to buy an annual $50 license to use the state’s natural resources. SB 304 was the only one of these measures to cross over this legislative session, and Wednesday’s committee hearing was its last referral since it was received from the Senate.
