The bill establishes the Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Grant Program, administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to fund projects that protect and recover species native to Hawaii. It sets out eligible recipients (state and local governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and higher-education institutions), program purposes (invasive species control, habitat restoration, monitoring, research, and outreach), and administrative rules for awarding grants.
The measure authorizes $30 million per year for 10 years, requires an annual Federal Register request for proposals tied to evidence-based priorities developed with Federal and State partners, and creates cost‑share rules (default 75% federal share with several exceptions, including microgrants and Native Hawaiian organizations). The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress and limits administrative spending to 5 percent of appropriations.
At a Glance
What It Does
Creates a USFWS‑run competitive grant program that issues grants, microgrants, and cooperative agreements to support conservation projects for Hawaii’s native plants, fungi, and animals. It requires annual funding priorities, an RFP in the Federal Register, ranking criteria, and an annual report to Congress.
Who It Affects
Directly affects eligible applicants in Hawaii: the State, county governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and universities; it also engages Federal agencies (NOAA, EPA, USDA and others) in setting priorities and USFWS in program delivery.
Why It Matters
It creates a dedicated, sustained federal funding stream targeted to Hawaii’s high endemism and acute threats (invasives, disease, climate impacts) and includes specific rules designed to expand access for Native Hawaiian organizations, youth workforce projects, and small awards.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to establish a competitively awarded grant program for projects that conserve and recover species native to Hawaii. Once Congress appropriates funds, the Secretary has 180 days to stand up the program and begin soliciting projects.
Projects must align with annually developed, evidence-based priorities and meet ranking criteria that the Secretary will set with state and federal partners.
The Secretary must coordinate the development of funding priorities with specified federal agency officials and with Hawaii state boards (Land and Natural Resources; Agriculture), and may include other stakeholders. The agency must publish an annual request for proposals in the Federal Register.
Applicants can receive grants, microgrants, or cooperative agreements; awards may fund invasive species control, habitat restoration, monitoring and research, climate adaptation measures, and public outreach to build local capacity.The financial structure sets the federal share of projects at up to 75 percent by default, but the Secretary may fund projects at 100 percent either at his discretion or when a project is led by a Native Hawaiian organization, significantly advances youth workforce readiness, or is a grant of not more than $50,000. Grantees may meet the non‑federal match through in‑kind contributions.
The statute requires that at least 5 percent of annual program funds be used for projects that qualify under the full‑funding exceptions. The Secretary can provide technical assistance and must consult Native Hawaiian organizations on projects affecting the Native Hawaiian community.The law also contains program governance and oversight mechanics: a recusal rule for state representatives when their government applies; an explicit supplement‑not‑supplant clause; a cap allowing the Secretary to use up to 5 percent of annual appropriations for administrative expenses; and an annual report to Congress describing funded projects and their status.
The authorization provides $30 million for the first fiscal year after enactment and the same amount for each of the following nine fiscal years.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The Secretary must establish the grant program within 180 days after funds are appropriated and issue an annual Federal Register request for proposals tied to priorities developed with federal and Hawaii state officials.
The bill authorizes $30,000,000 per fiscal year for ten years and allows the Secretary to spend up to 5 percent of each year’s appropriation on administrative costs.
The default federal share is up to 75 percent of project costs, but the Secretary may fund projects at 100 percent either at his discretion or when projects are led by Native Hawaiian organizations, significantly support youth workforce readiness, or are grants of $50,000 or less.
At least 5 percent of each year’s program funds must be set aside to award projects that meet the 100 percent federal share exceptions (Native Hawaiian orgs, youth workforce, or microgrants).
The statute requires grantee ranking criteria and annual coordination with NOAA, EPA, USDA, Hawaii’s Board of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Agriculture, plus consultation with Native Hawaiian organizations for projects affecting the Native Hawaiian community.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Short title
Provides the act’s name: the "Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Act of 2025." This is a technical label, but it signals the statute’s narrow geographic and programmatic scope — the law applies only to the State of Hawaii and programs established under this Act.
Definitions
Defines key terms used through the Act: eligible entity (broadly covering state and local governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and higher education), native species (plants, fungi, animals native to Hawaii), Secretary (Interior, via USFWS), and grant program. These definitions determine who can apply, which organisms are covered, and which federal official runs the program, so they shape eligibility and administrative responsibility.
Establishment and purpose of the grant program
Requires the Secretary to set up the Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Grant Program within 180 days after appropriation and to award funds through grants, microgrants, cooperative agreements, or other means. It lists program purposes — invasive species control, climate response, habitat restoration, population management, science and monitoring, data collection, and public engagement — which will guide allowable project types and the ranking criteria.
Priority setting, application process, recusal, assistance, and non‑supplanting
Directs the Secretary to develop annual, evidence‑based funding priorities in coordination with federal agencies (NOAA, EPA, USDA, and others as needed) and Hawaii state boards; requires the Secretary to publish an annual RFP; and to develop project ranking criteria. It includes a recusal rule that prevents Hawaii state representatives who are applicants from participating in funding decisions on their own applications. The Secretary may provide technical assistance and must consult Native Hawaiian organizations on projects with community implications, and funds must supplement, not supplant, other conservation dollars in Hawaii.
Cost‑sharing, in‑kind match, microgrants, and reservation of funds
Establishes that the federal share generally shall not exceed 75 percent but may be 100 percent at the Secretary’s discretion or automatically when (1) a Native Hawaiian organization carries out the project, (2) the project significantly contributes to youth workforce readiness, or (3) the award is $50,000 or less. Non‑federal shares may be in‑kind. The statute also requires that at least 5 percent of annual funds be used for projects that meet the full‑funding exceptions, effectively reserving a small portion of each year’s budget for Native orgs, youth/workforce, and microgrants.
Annual report to Congress
Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress that describes each funded project and provides the status of projects in progress. This creates transparency but also imposes recurring reporting obligations on the agency and on grantees to supply progress information and status updates.
Authorization and administrative cap
Authorizes appropriations of $30,000,000 for the first fiscal year after enactment and the same amount for each of the following nine fiscal years (total potential authorization of $300 million across ten years). It caps administrative expenses at not more than 5 percent of annual funds, which constrains agency overhead and favors directing funds to on‑the‑ground projects.
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Explore Environment in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Native Hawaiian organizations — the bill explicitly allows projects led by Native Hawaiian organizations to receive 100 percent federal funding and requires consultation on projects affecting the Native Hawaiian community, improving access to federal resources and decision‑making influence.
- Local conservation NGOs and land trusts — predictable, dedicated funding for invasive species control, habitat restoration, monitoring, and community engagement increases capacity for long‑term projects and partnership building.
- Universities and research institutions in Hawaii — the program funds scientific capacity, monitoring, and research that can support grant‑funded projects and workforce training for students and early‑career scientists.
- County and State resource managers — the program offers financial and technical assistance to implement state conservation priorities and supplements state funding streams to address high‑priority threats.
- Workforce development and youth programs — the exception for projects that significantly contribute to youth workforce readiness creates a pathway for funding job training, internships, and workforce pipelines tied to conservation work.
Who Bears the Cost
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Department of the Interior — establishing and operating the program (RFPs, reviews, reporting, technical assistance) will demand staff time and systems maintenance within the 5 percent administrative cap.
- Non‑federal applicants and partners — projects typically require a non‑Federal match (25 percent) unless they qualify for an exception; matching and reporting requirements create financial and administrative burdens, particularly for smaller groups.
- State and local governments — even if they receive grants, the supplement‑not‑supplant clause and recusal rules may force governments to adjust existing program budgets and interagency workflows to comply with collaboration and transparency requirements.
- Smaller community groups without formal fiscal infrastructure — while microgrants and 100 percent funding exceptions exist, many community groups will still need fiscal sponsors or capacity building to apply, implement, and report on projects.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central tension is between directing federal funds quickly and flexibly to local conservation needs in Hawaii (including full funding for Native and youth projects) and imposing a competitive, federally coordinated process with cost‑share rules and annual priorities that can favor established applicants and introduce timing and administrative burdens for smaller community groups and long‑term projects.
The statute balances targeted federal funding with procedural constraints that create implementation choices and potential frictions. The 75 percent default federal share plus narrow exceptions for full funding can expand access for Native Hawaiian organizations and small projects, but the practical requirement to provide a 25 percent match (cash or in‑kind) will still exclude some community groups unless technical assistance or fiscal sponsorship fills the gap.
The 5 percent reservation for projects that qualify for full funding helps, but it is small relative to the total appropriation and may not scale to meet demand.
Coordination requirements (multiple federal agencies, Hawaii state boards, and unspecified “other stakeholders”) aim to drive evidence‑based priorities but risk slowing decisionmaking or privileging established institutions with resources to participate. The bill requires consultation with Native Hawaiian organizations but stops short of establishing consent or governance roles; how the Secretary interprets “consult” and how consultation affects project selection remain open.
Finally, the statute’s annual priorities and competitive award process create recurring uncertainty for multi‑year restoration projects that need predictable multi‑year funding beyond single award cycles.
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