Debate over aquarium-collection bill exposes split votes; final recommendation not adopted

Senators debated House Bill 2101, which regulates commercial aquarium collection. One senator raised concern that the bill limited collection methods in ways that did not reflect proponents' intent and said fishermen from the Big Island had pushed for a different version. "I'm very concerned about being limited to a walking, considering this proponent of this will from the big island," said a senator during discussion.

Members noted that prior concurrence on the measure had not been granted and some senators described feeling that proponents' positions were not reflected in the current text. The Judiciary committee proceeded to vote on the bill and an initial roll call was announced as adopted. Later the committees returned to the item for another roll call; the clerk announced, "Your recommendation is not adopted," after the later tally.

The transcript does not include full, named tallies for every member on the final roll; clerks recorded aye votes from the chair and vice chair in both roll calls, and the later announcement indicated the recommendation did not carry. No further amendments or next steps were specified before adjournment.