CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 195

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1146

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1146, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ALA WAI CANAL,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii to:

(1) Develop an action plan and pre-engineering concept plan to help with debris management and water quality control in the Ala Wai watershed; and

(2) Establish two graduate assistant positions to assist with the action plan and pre-engineering concept plan.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the Ala Wai watershed is an important natural resource enjoyed by residents and an asset for the State's economy. However, intense rain and weather events further inland cause debris from streams and tributaries to wash into the canal. This measure leverages the expertise available at the University of Hawaii to develop near- and long-term debris management and water quality solutions in the Ala Wai watershed.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting appropriation amounts of $425,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 for:

(A) The development of an action plan and pre-engineering concept plan to help with debris management and water quality control in the Ala Wai watershed;

(B) The University of Hawaii to establish two graduate positions to assist with the action plan and pre‑engineering concept plan; and

(C) Partial summer overload support for faculty mentors providing oversight of the student project teams;

(2) Inserting language specifying that the amounts appropriated shall also be expended for other current expenses;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2025; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1146, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1146, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT Co-Chair	____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM Chair
____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE Co-Chair
____________________________ DANIEL HOLT Co-Chair	____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Co-Chair