STAND. COM. REP. NO. 771

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1232

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1232, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate moneys for a three-year wastewater technology testing pilot program within the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Health, University of Hawaii System, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Climate Change and Health Working Group, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that the pilot program established by this measure will help identify effective and cost-efficient solutions to the State's cesspool conversion challenges. Your Committee further finds that the collaborative research supported by this measure will help ensure that the State's approach to cesspool conversion is data-driven and tailored to Hawaii's unique environmental conditions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive edits for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 1232, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1232, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair