STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1231

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 505

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 505, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RED HILL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish:

(1) A Red Hill Water Alliance Initiative (WAI) Policy Coordinator to coordinate WAI initiatives across state and county agencies and appropriate federal entities; and

(2) The Red Hill Remediation Fund.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, University of Hawaiʻi System, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Hui Malama Pono Hawaiʻi, Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Coalition Earth, Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi, Shimanchu Wai Protectors, and seventeen individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that the State and City and County of Honolulu formed the Red Hill WAI, a working group, in 2023, to address the danger posed by the 2021 Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility spill. Your Committees further find that the Red Hill WAI posed questions, conducted research, listened to subject-matter experts, and formulated recommended policies. In November 2023, after much diligent work, the Red Hill WAI issued a public report that set forth its findings and recommendations. Your Committees also find that there must be no delay in adopting the recommendations of the Red Hill WAI that can be implemented at the state and county levels. Accordingly, this measure establishes the position of WAI Policy Coordinator and the Red Hill Remediation Special Fund to ensure that clean water is available on Oahu for generations to come.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 505, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 505, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair