STAND. COM. REP. NO. 903

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 984

S.D. 2

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. 984, S.D. 1, 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:

(1) Require a landowner in possession of ten thousand or more acres to be liable for damages and fines arising from runoff originating on the land and entering into state waters or onto state lands; and

(2) Require the Department of Health to adopt rules as necessary for the purposes of this provision.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy, and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Ulupalakua Ranch; and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that in addition to the immediate damage caused by extreme rain events caused by climate change, there has been an increased threat of pollution to both groundwater and coastal water. Your Committee further finds that the increased rate of runoff from extreme rain events has caused severe damage to the State's reefs, coastal ecosystems, and ocean wildlife populations. By holding large landowners accountable to damaging runoff, this measure will protect state waters and lands and assist in the State's climate change mitigation efforts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of April 23, 2057, to encourage further discussion.

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. 984, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 984, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair