PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] · D–HI
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E176-177)
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Jan 21, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-03-03 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Act of 2025 would create a federal program to fund projects protecting Hawaii’s native plants, fungi, and animals. State and local governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and colleges could receive support for work addressing invasive species, climate-related damage, habitat loss, and species recovery. The bill would authorize $30 million annually for 10 fiscal years; actual funding would require appropriations.
This Act may be cited as the Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Act of 2025.
The term eligible entity means— (A) the State; (B) a unit of local government in the State; (C) a Native Hawaiian organization; (D) a nonprofit organization; (E) a business; and (F) an institution of higher education.
The term native species means a plant, fungi, or animal species that is native to the State.
The grant program shall identify priorities and provide funding and technical assistance to carry out coordinated, evidence-based conservation and recovery projects in the State— (1) to prevent and mitigate the introduction and spread of invasive species, pests, and diseases that threaten native species; (2) to address the ecological consequences of climate change on native species; (3) to address loss and degradation of native species' habitats; (4) to manage, maintain, and restore populations of native species;
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act $30,000,000 for the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act and for each of the 9 fiscal years thereafter.
The Interior Secretary, acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director, would administer the program. Throughout the bill, “State” means Hawaii.
(5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (6) State The term State means the State of Hawaii.
The Secretary would have to establish the program within 180 days after money is appropriated to carry out the bill. It would provide funding annually through grants, small grants, cooperative agreements, or other means. Funded projects would have to satisfy the program’s funding priorities and criteria.
Not later than 180 days after the date on which amounts are appropriated to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall establish a grant program, to be known as the Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Grant Program, to annually provide, through cooperative agreements, grants, micro grants, or other means, funding to eligible entities to carry out projects that— (1) achieve the funding priorities developed under subsection (c); and (2) meet the criteria developed under subsection (e).
Alongside conservation and recovery work, the program would support scientific planning, monitoring, research, information collection, and public education and involvement. These are stated program purposes, not demonstrated results.
(5) to increase scientific capacity to support the planning, monitoring, and research activities necessary for the conservation and recovery of native species; (6) to improve information collection, ecological monitoring, and management relating to the activities described in paragraphs (1) through (5); and (7) to engage the public through outreach, education, and community involvement to increase capacity and support for the conservation and recovery of native species in the State.
The Secretary would develop annual, evidence-based funding priorities with specified federal agencies, Hawaii’s land and agriculture board chairs, and other relevant stakeholders the Secretary selects.
the Secretary shall coordinate with the following individuals to develop annual, evidence-based funding priorities for the grant program that support the purposes described in subsection (b): (1) The heads of Federal agencies, including— (A) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or a designee); (B) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (or a designee); (C) the Secretary of Agriculture (or a designee); and (D) the head of any other applicable Federal agency (or a designee), as determined by the Secretary. (2) The Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources (or a designee). (3) The Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture (or a designee). (4) Any other relevant stakeholder involved in the conservation and recovery of native species in the State that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
The Secretary would publish an annual request for project proposals in the Federal Register, the federal government's official notice publication. The Secretary and the participants involved in setting priorities would also develop annual criteria for ranking proposals.
(d) Request for proposals The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register an annual request for proposals, in accordance with the funding priorities developed under subsection (c). (e) Criteria The Secretary, in coordination with the individuals described in subsection (c), shall annually develop criteria for ranking project proposals to receive funding under the grant program.
When Hawaii or one of its local governments applies for funding, participating representatives of that applicant would have to withdraw from all funding decisions concerning its applications.
If the State or a unit of local government in the State applies for a grant under the grant program, then the individuals described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (c) who are representatives of the State or that unit of local government, as applicable, shall recuse themselves from all funding decisions relating to those applications.
Federal funding would generally cover no more than 75% of a project's cost. The Secretary could allow 100% federal funding for any project at the Secretary's discretion. The bill also expressly permits that treatment for projects carried out by Native Hawaiian organizations, projects significantly contributing to youth workforce readiness during implementation, and projects using program grants of $50,000 or less. Full federal funding would not be automatic.
(A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under the grant program shall not exceed 75 percent. (B) Exceptions The Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under the grant program may be 100 percent, as determined by the Secretary— (i) for any project, in the discretion of the Secretary; or (ii) if the project— (I) is carried out by a Native Hawaiian organization; (II) significantly contributes to youth workforce readiness in the implementation of the project; or (III) is carried out using a grant awarded under the grant program in an amount of not more than $50,000.
Recipients could meet their nonfederal share with services, materials, or access to land instead of cash.
The non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under the grant program may be provided in the form of an in-kind contribution of services, materials, or access to land.
At least 5% of annual program funds would have to support the combined group of projects carried out by Native Hawaiian organizations, projects significantly contributing to youth workforce readiness, or projects using grants of $50,000 or less. The bill does not assign a separate 5% minimum to each category.
Of the amounts made available to carry out the grant program for each fiscal year, not less than 5 percent shall be used to award grants for projects described in subclauses (I) through (III) of subsection (g)(1)(B)(ii).
(I) is carried out by a Native Hawaiian organization; (II) significantly contributes to youth workforce readiness in the implementation of the project; or (III) is carried out using a grant awarded under the grant program in an amount of not more than $50,000.
The Secretary could provide technical help to eligible entities implementing funded projects. For any funded project with implications for the Native Hawaiian community, the Secretary would have to consult Native Hawaiian organizations.
(i) Technical assistance The Secretary may provide technical assistance to eligible entities to assist in the implementation of projects that receive funding under the grant program. (j) Consultation with Native Hawaiian organizations The Secretary, in carrying out the grant program, shall consult with Native Hawaiian organizations with respect to any project that receives funding under the grant program with implications for the Native Hawaiian Community.
Program funds would have to add to, rather than replace, other funds available for the same conservation and recovery purposes in Hawaii.
Funds made available to carry out the grant program for each fiscal year shall supplement and not supplant other funds made available to carry out the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (b) in the State.
The Secretary would report to Congress annually on implementation, describing each funded project and the status of projects still underway when the report is submitted.
Annually, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of this Act, including— (1) a description of each project that has received funding under the grant program; and (2) the status of each project described in paragraph (1) that is in progress on the date of submission of the applicable report.
The bill would authorize Congress to appropriate $30 million for the first fiscal year beginning after enactment and for each of the following nine fiscal years. This authorizes funding but does not itself provide the money.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act $30,000,000 for the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act and for each of the 9 fiscal years thereafter.
No more than 5% of the money made available each fiscal year under the authorization could be used for program administration.
Of the amounts made available for each fiscal year under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use not more than 5 percent for administrative expenses relating to carrying out the grant program.
The supplied actions snapshot, updated January 21, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on Natural Resources on March 3, 2025.
Source snapshot updated 2026-01-21T06:49:33Z. 2025-03-03: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. 2025-03-03: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-03-03. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy rider was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No earmark was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. Geographic program coverage and funding authorization alone do not establish an earmark. This conclusion does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The supplied text contains a reserved funding share for specified project categories within the bill's main conservation program. This classification does not judge the preference's merits.
The bill would reserve at least 5% of annual program funds collectively for projects carried out by Native Hawaiian organizations, projects significantly contributing to youth workforce readiness, or projects using grants of $50,000 or less. This gives those categories a funding preference within the conservation program. They are also expressly eligible for discretionary 100% federal funding, although the Secretary could grant that same cost-sharing exception to any project.
Of the amounts made available to carry out the grant program for each fiscal year, not less than 5 percent shall be used to award grants for projects described in subclauses (I) through (III) of subsection (g)(1)(B)(ii).
The Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under the grant program may be 100 percent, as determined by the Secretary— (i) for any project, in the discretion of the Secretary; or (ii) if the project— (I) is carried out by a Native Hawaiian organization; (II) significantly contributes to youth workforce readiness in the implementation of the project; or (III) is carried out using a grant awarded under the grant program in an amount of not more than $50,000.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Jan 21, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI