STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1970

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1602

S.D. 1

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1602, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KEAUHOU AQUIFER SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish the Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Pilot Program to collect data, monitor groundwater levels, conduct tests, conduct community outreach, and develop a plan for responsible management of groundwater resources in the Keauhou Aquifer System;

(2) Require the periodic reporting of certain information collected for the Pilot Project to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the Pilot Project and installation of two monitoring wells in the Keauhou Aquifer System.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority; Department of Water Supply of the County of Hawaii; Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1602, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair