STAND. COM. REP. NO. 952

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 145

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 145 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DECLARATION OF WATER SHORTAGE AND EMERGENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Climate Change and Health Working Group, and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that as an island state, Hawaiʻi has a finite amount of water resources. However, factors such as climate change and aging water infrastructure can lead to water shortages, impacting thousands of customers. As recent prolonged drought events have created a greater demand for water, the State must have the ability to determine appropriate access to water resources during a critical emergency. Therefore, this measure takes a proactive approach to water conservation through greater flexibility in determining a declaration of water shortage and emergency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 145 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair