STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1485

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1541

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

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. 1541, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WAIAHOLE WATER SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Waiahole Water System for bond debt service and tunnel repair.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaii Agriculture Research Center; Bayer U.S. LLC; Ulupono Initiative; Kunia Village Title Holding Corporation; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; and Mililani Agricultural Park, LLC.

Your Committee finds that the Waiahole Water System is essential for transporting water from the Koolau Mountains to central and leeward Oahu, supporting thousands of acres of agricultural land. However, aging infrastructure and high water rates place a significant financial burden on farmers, increasing production costs and food prices. This measure appropriates funds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation to retire bond debt and address infrastructure repairs, ensuring long-term water access and affordability for Hawaii's agricultural sector.

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. 1541, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair