STAND. COM. REP. NO. 722

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 329

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 329 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend requirements for wastewater treatment.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Requires at least fifty percent of treatment works effluent to be R-1 recycled water by January 1, 2045; and

(2) Extends from 2026 to 2030 the year by which no treated or raw sewage shall be discharged into state waters.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that upgrading the State's water treatment and water recycling infrastructure will produce short‑term and long-term environmental benefits by reducing water pollution and creating a sustainable source of irrigation water for agricultural production and other uses.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 329 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair