STAND. COM. REP. NO. 574

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 150

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 150 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RED HILL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Water Alliance Initiative (WAI) Policy Coordinator position within the office of the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources for coordination of Red Hill WAI initiatives; and

(2) Create the Red Hill Remediation Special Fund.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi; Shimanchu Wai Protectors; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Coalition Earth; Moanalua Gardens Foundation, Inc.; Hawaiʻi District United Methodist Church; and numerous individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that in response to the 2021 Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility spill, the Red Hill WAI, a working group, was formed to address the concerns raised by the spill and ensure that there is clean water on Oahu for future generations. Your Committees further find that after much diligent work, the Red Hill WAI issued a public report in November 2023 that set forth its findings and recommendations. This measure establishes the position of WAI Policy Coordinator and the Red Hill Remediation Special Fund to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations made by the Red Hill WAI.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 150, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 150, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair