Sponsors (2)
The bill provides stable, targeted federal funding and access for Hawaii-based organizations to conserve native species and build local capacity, but it increases federal spending and creates eligibility, administrative, and funding-allocation constraints that may limit program reach, flexibility, and equitable access.
Native Hawaiian organizations, local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and universities gain direct eligibility for a federal grant program that funds conservation and restoration of Hawaii's native species and habitats.
Communities across Hawaii (especially rural and Indigenous communities) will see projects that address invasive species and climate impacts, improving ecosystem services and local resilience.
Young adults and local workers gain job and workforce-readiness opportunities because funded projects include training and employment components.
Taxpayers bear new federal costs—roughly $300 million over 10 years—and many projects have a high federal cost-share (default 75% and potentially up to 100%), increasing federal spending obligations.
Nonprofits, universities, and ex-situ conservation efforts outside Hawaii could be excluded because eligibility and statutory definitions are geographically and legally narrow, limiting projects that benefit Hawaiian species but operate off-island.
Smaller and nontraditional applicants (including some Indigenous organizations and community groups) may still lack capacity to compete for grants despite technical assistance, limiting equitable access to funds.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Creates a federal grant program funding Hawaii native species conservation with $30M/year for 10 years, default 75% federal cost-share, reserve set-aside, and annual congressional reporting.
Introduced March 3, 2025 by Ed Case · Last progress March 3, 2025
Creates a federally supported grant program to fund conservation and recovery projects for plant, fungi, and animal species native to the State of Hawaii. The program funds eligible entities—state and local governments in Hawaii, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and universities—to address invasive species, habitat loss, climate impacts, population restoration, monitoring, and public outreach. Authorizes $30 million per year for 10 years, requires the Interior Department (through the Fish and Wildlife Service) to set annual funding priorities and ranking criteria, sets a default federal cost-share cap of 75% (with exceptions up to 100%), reserves at least 5% of funds for certain small or community-driven projects, and requires annual reporting to Congress. Administrative costs are capped at 5% of annual funds.