STAND. COM. REP. NO. 596

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 798

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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 798, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the exemptions to the prohibition on discharging any wastewater or raw sewage into state waters after December 31, 2026, by:

(1) Removing the exemption for treatment plants that produce clean energy; and

(2) Exempting treatment plants with a treatment capacity under a certain amount.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; and Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui.

Your Committee finds that this measure will allow the County of Maui to move forward with its plans for the Waikapu Wastewater Treatment Plan and allow for the development of affordable housing.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the prohibition against discharging wastewater or raw sewage applies strictly to treatment plants, not any person, including a public body.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 798, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 798, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair