IMUA: Another Beach Access Bill Moves Forward
Good news! SB1088, which Marti Townsend from KAHEA, Evan Silbersten (Surfrider extern), Sen. Hooser, and I worked on together, has cleared the first hearing by the Senate Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs with only technical amendments.
This bill adds a citizen suit provision to HRS 115. Hopefully, this will improve enforcement of existing access laws. Groups fighting for access mauka-to-makai can get attorneys' fees for winning, which will level the playing field a bit against wealthy homeowners on both private and public beachside roads.
Marti said the DLNR and State Attorney General's office did testify against the bill, but it was pretty half-hearted in her view.
Mahalo to everyone who submitted testimony -- there was quite a bit, Marti said, adding "a big, special thanks to Robert Harris for coming and eloquently defending the important role of citizen suits."
The next hurdle is the Senate Judiciary Committee. Please call or email Sen. Taniguchi to request that he schedule a hearing of this bill:
sentaniguchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov
You can make it short and sweet. Just say we need SB1088 to help protect and preserve public beach access for future generations!
This bill adds a citizen suit provision to HRS 115. Hopefully, this will improve enforcement of existing access laws. Groups fighting for access mauka-to-makai can get attorneys' fees for winning, which will level the playing field a bit against wealthy homeowners on both private and public beachside roads.
Marti said the DLNR and State Attorney General's office did testify against the bill, but it was pretty half-hearted in her view.
Mahalo to everyone who submitted testimony -- there was quite a bit, Marti said, adding "a big, special thanks to Robert Harris for coming and eloquently defending the important role of citizen suits."
The next hurdle is the Senate Judiciary Committee. Please call or email Sen. Taniguchi to request that he schedule a hearing of this bill:
sentaniguchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov
You can make it short and sweet. Just say we need SB1088 to help protect and preserve public beach access for future generations!
