STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1235

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 879

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 Health and Human Services and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 879, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOL CONVERSIONS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the maximum grant amount for the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations; Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Public Access to SunScreens (PASS) Coalition; Windward Coalition; and six individuals.

Your Committees find that Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022 (Act 153), established a Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project to assist certain low- and moderate-income property owners, including lessees on Hawaiian home lands, with the costs of upgrading or converting cesspools. However, your Committees further find that although certain property owners may be eligible for grant funding, granted funds may be insufficient to cover all upgrade or conversion costs. Your Committees also note that the appropriation under Act 153 lapsed as of June 30, 2024. This measure provides funding to expand the successful Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project to continue to help eligible homeowners by providing grants to help pay the cost of converting their cesspools.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 879, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 879, 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 Health and Human Services and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair