STAND. COM. REP. NO. 99

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 734

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. 734 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Health, in consultation with appropriate agencies and professionals, to review rules and practices and propose changes that have the potential to make wastewater systems and cesspool upgrades more affordable without compromising water quality; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Public Access to SunScreens Coalition; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Coral Reef Alliance; WAI: Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations; Hawaiʻi Wai Ola; The Nature Conservancy Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that cesspools in the State are a serious environmental and public health issue. This measure addresses cesspool pollution and explores additional pathways toward cesspool upgrade or conversion affordability without compromising water quality.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program from the list of entities with whom the Department of Health shall consult;

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should is deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $150,000.

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. 734, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 734, 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