STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1249

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 946

S.D. 2

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 Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 946, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that the prohibition against discharging wastewater or raw sewage into state waters after December 31, 2026, applies to treatment plants.

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

Your Committee finds that prohibiting practices that discharge wastewater and raw sewage is necessary to protect Hawaii's waters. Your Committee further finds that existing law prohibits the discharge of any treated or raw sewage into state waters, with certain exemptions. This measure is intended to clarify what discharge is subject to the law and what is exempt.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair