STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1405

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 946

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 946, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the exemptions to the prohibition on discharging any wastewater or raw sewage into state waters after December 31, 2026, by:

(1) Repealing the exemption for treatment plants that produce clean energy; and

(2) Applying the prohibition to all treatment plants.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; and Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition.

Your Committee finds that this measure will enable critical projects, such as the Central Maui Wastewater Reclamation Facility, to move forward without costly delays and will support affordable housing and environmental protection efforts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Restoring the statutory provisions prohibiting a person from discharging any wastewater or raw sewage into state waters after December 31, 2026; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 946, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 946, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair