STAND. COM. REP. NO. 229

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1495

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1495 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KEAUHOU AQUIFER SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Pilot Program and appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to install two monitoring wells in the Keauhou Aquifer System.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Keauhou Aquifer System is a vital water source that sustains local communities, ecosystems, and cultural practices. Your Committee further finds that the Keauhou Aquifer System faces ongoing challenges due to water demand and overuse. Your Committee recognizes the importance of monitoring these vital water resources and believes this measure will address this need by establishing a Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Pilot Project and appropriating funds for the installation of two monitoring wells in the Keauhou Aquifer System.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Pilot Project by:

(A) Clarifying that the Commission on Water Resource Management may work with other agencies;

(B) Clarifying that the Commission will conduct water salinity tests and include water salinity analysis in reports to the Legislature;

(C) Adding additional responsibilities related to monitoring, public outreach, and planning; and

(D) Requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources to determine whether to continue, expand, or end the Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Pilot Project based on its assessment of the Pilot Project;

(2) Adding an appropriation for the Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Pilot Project;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider the appropriation amounts of:

(1) $200,000 for the Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Pilot Project; and

(2) $163,000 for the installation of two monitoring wells in the Keauhou Aquifer System.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1495, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1495, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair