STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1149

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 306

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 306, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a minimum penalty, and amend the maximum penalty with scheduled incremental increases, per violation of the State Water Code and clarify what constitutes a separate offense; and

(2) Require the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Ulupono Initiative; Lāhainā Strong; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 306, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair