HB 510: CWRM; Water Shortage and Emergency; Water Shortage Declaration; Notice
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2025-04-03
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-04-17: Re-Referred to WLA, JDC.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Amends the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies. Limits the duration of a water shortage declaration to ninety days. Limits water usage restrictions imposed on a permittee or owner and operator to twenty per cent of the permittee's or owner and operator's last reported monthly use. Requires CWRM to maintain a list of names and postal or email addresses of persons who request notification of a water shortage declaration and send them a copy of a notice of a water shortage declaration whenever water shortage is declared. Effective 7/1/2040. (SD2)
Amends the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies. Limits the duration of a water shortage declaration to ninety days. Limits water usage restrictions imposed on a permittee or owner and operator to twenty per cent of the permittee's or owner and operator's last reported monthly use. Requires CWRM to maintain a list of names and postal or email addresses of persons who request notification of a water shortage declaration and send them a copy of a notice of a water shortage declaration whenever water shortage is declared. Effective 7/1/2040. (SD1)
Amends the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Amends the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
510 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 2 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO DECLARATION OF WATER SHORTAGE AND EMERGENCY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the commission on water resource management must formulate water shortage plans and adopt a reasonable system of permit classification through rulemaking to properly plan for future water shortages and provide stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the process. With such plans and permit classifications, future restrictions on water use would be applied uniformly and individual users would know in advance their relative priority during periods of water shortage.
The legislature further finds that the commission on water resource management should have the ability to adopt water shortage plans, permit classifications, and criteria outside of water management areas and should apply these plans to the owners and operators of wells and stream diversion works. As recent droughts have revealed, water shortages and emergencies can occur quickly. In 2024, all islands experienced drought conditions, and many areas suffered from severe to extreme drought. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure effective and transparent planning for water shortages within and outside of designated water management areas.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to amend the conditions, manner, and areas in which the commission on water resource management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies.
SECTION 2. Section 174C-62, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§174C-62[]] Declaration of
water shortage. (a)
The commission shall, by rule, formulate a plan for
implementation during periods of water shortage. As a part of the plan, the commission shall,
by rule, adopt a reasonable system of permit classification according to
source of water supply, method of extraction or diversion, use of water, or a
combination thereof.
(b)
The commission[, by rule,] may declare that a water shortage
exists within all or part of an area, whether within or outside of a water
management area, when insufficient water is available to meet the
requirements of the permit system or when conditions are such as to require a
temporary reduction in total water use within [the] or outside of the
water management area to protect water resources from serious harm. The commission shall publish, by rule,
a set of criteria for determining when a water shortage exists.
(c) A water shortage declaration issued pursuant to subsection (b) shall expire after ninety days; provided that the commission may extend the duration of a water shortage declaration if the commission determines that the continuance of a water shortage declaration is necessary after reviewing the appropriate criteria and hydrologic conditions.
[(c)] (d) In
accordance with the plan adopted under subsection (a), the commission may
impose [such] restrictions on one or more classes of permits and on the owners and operators of wells and stream diversion
works that are located outside of water management areas as may be
necessary to protect the water resources of the area from serious harm and to
restore them to their previous water quantity or chloride level
condition[.]; provided that a water usage restriction imposed by the
commission pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed twenty per cent of the
permittee's or owner and operator's last reported monthly water usage; provided
further that the commission shall consider a permittee's or owner and
operator's monthly water usage to be zero if the permittee or owner and
operator has not reported water usage within the twelve months before the date
that a water shortage declaration is issued.
[(d)
A declaration of water shortage and any measures adopted pursuant
thereto may be rescinded by rule by the commission.]
(e)
When a water shortage is declared, the commission shall cause a notice [thereof]
of the water shortage to be published in a prominent place in a
newspaper of general circulation throughout the area[.] and on the
commission's website. The notice
shall be published each day for the first week of the shortage [and],
once a week [thereafter] for four months, and once a month thereafter
until the declaration is rescinded. The
notice shall remain on the commission's website until the declaration is
rescinded. Publication of [such]
the notice shall serve as notice to all water users in the area of the
condition of water shortage.
(f)
The commission shall cause each permittee in the area to be notified by
regular mail and, if the permittee's electronic mail address is known, by
electronic mail of any change in the conditions of the permittee's permit,
any suspension [thereof,] of the permittee's permit, or of any
other restriction on the use of water for the duration of the water shortage.
(g) The commission shall:
(1) Maintain a list of the name and postal address and email address of any person who requests notification of a water shortage declaration; and
(2) Send by certified mail or email a copy of a notice of a water shortage declaration to persons on the list maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) whenever a water shortage is declared.
[(g)] (h) If an
emergency condition arises due to a water shortage within any area, whether
within or outside of a water management area, and if the commission finds that
the restrictions imposed under subsection [(c)] (d) are not
sufficient to protect the public health, safety, or welfare, or the health of
animals, fish, or aquatic life, or a public water supply, or recreational,
municipal, agricultural, or other reasonable uses, the commission may issue
orders reciting the existence of such emergency and requiring that such actions
as the commission deems necessary to meet the emergency be taken, including but
not limited to apportioning, rotating, limiting, or prohibiting the use of the
water resources of the area. Any party
to whom an emergency order is directed may challenge such an order but shall
immediately comply with the order, pending disposition of the party's
challenge. The commission shall give
precedence to a hearing on [such] the challenge over all other
pending matters."
SECTION 3. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2040.
Report Title:
CWRM; Water Shortage and Emergency; Water Shortage Declaration; Notice
Description:
Amends the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies. Limits the duration of a water shortage declaration to ninety days. Limits water usage restrictions imposed on a permittee or owner and operator to twenty per cent of the permittee's or owner and operator's last reported monthly use. Requires CWRM to maintain a list of names and postal or email addresses of persons who request notification of a water shortage declaration and send them a copy of a notice of a water shortage declaration whenever water shortage is declared. Effective 7/1/2040. (SD2)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
510 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
H.D. 1 |
|
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO DECLARATION OF WATER SHORTAGE AND EMERGENCY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the commission on water resource management must formulate water shortage plans and adopt a reasonable system of permit classification through rulemaking to properly plan for future water shortages and provide stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the process. With such plans and permit classifications, future restrictions on water use would be applied uniformly and individual users would know in advance their relative priority during periods of water shortage.
The legislature further finds that the commission on water resource management should have the ability to adopt water shortage plans, permit classifications, and criteria outside of water management areas and should apply these plans to the owners and operators of wells and stream diversion works. As recent droughts have revealed, water shortages and emergencies can occur quickly. In 2024, all islands experienced drought conditions, and many areas suffered from severe to extreme drought. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure effective and transparent planning for water shortages within and outside of designated water management areas.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to amend the conditions, manner, and areas in which the commission on water resource management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies.
SECTION 2. Section 174C-62, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§174C-62[]] Declaration of
water shortage. (a)
The commission shall, by rule, formulate a plan for
implementation during periods of water shortage. As a part of the plan, the commission shall,
by rule, adopt a reasonable system of permit classification according to
source of water supply, method of extraction or diversion, use of water, or a
combination thereof.
(b)
The commission[, by rule,] may declare that a water shortage
exists within all or part of an area, whether within or outside of a water
management area, when insufficient water is available to meet the
requirements of the permit system or when conditions are such as to require a
temporary reduction in total water use within [the] or outside of the
water management area to protect water resources from serious harm. The commission shall publish, by rule,
a set of criteria for determining when a water shortage exists.
(c) A water shortage declaration issued pursuant to subsection (b) shall expire after ninety days; provided that the commission may extend the duration of a water shortage declaration if the commission determines that the continuance of a water shortage declaration is necessary after reviewing the appropriate criteria and hydrologic conditions.
[(c)] (d) In
accordance with the plan adopted under subsection (a), the commission may
impose [such] restrictions on one or more classes of permits and on the owners and operators of wells and stream diversion
works that are located outside of water management areas as may be
necessary to protect the water resources of the area from serious harm and to
restore them to their previous water quantity or chloride level
condition[.]; provided that a water usage restriction imposed by the
commission pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed twenty per cent of the
permittee's or owner and operator's last reported monthly water usage; provided
further that the commission shall consider a permittee's or owner and
operator's monthly water usage to be zero if the permittee or owner and
operator has not reported water usage within the twelve months before the date
that a water shortage declaration is issued.
[(d)
A declaration of water shortage and any measures adopted pursuant
thereto may be rescinded by rule by the commission.]
(e)
When a water shortage is declared, the commission shall cause a notice [thereof]
of the water shortage to be published in a prominent place in a
newspaper of general circulation throughout the area[.] and on the
commission's website. The notice
shall be published each day for the first week of the shortage [and],
once a week [thereafter] for four months, and once a month thereafter
until the declaration is rescinded. The
notice shall remain on the commission's website until the declaration is rescinded. Publication of [such] the
notice shall serve as notice to all water users in the area of the condition of
water shortage.
(f)
The commission shall cause each permittee in the area to be notified by
regular mail and, if the permittee's electronic mail address is known, by
electronic mail of any change in the conditions of the permittee's permit,
any suspension [thereof,] of the permittee's permit, or of any
other restriction on the use of water for the duration of the water shortage.
(g) The commission shall:
(1) Maintain a list of the name and postal address and email address of any person who requests notification of a water shortage declaration; and
(2) Send by certified mail or email a copy of a notice of a water shortage declaration to persons on the list maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) whenever a water shortage is declared.
[(g)] (h) If an
emergency condition arises due to a water shortage within any area, whether
within or outside of a water management area, and if the commission finds that
the restrictions imposed under subsection (c) are not sufficient to protect the
public health, safety, or welfare, or the health of animals, fish, or aquatic
life, or a public water supply, or recreational, municipal, agricultural, or
other reasonable uses, the commission may issue orders reciting the existence
of such emergency and requiring that such actions as the commission deems
necessary to meet the emergency be taken, including but not limited to
apportioning, rotating, limiting, or prohibiting the use of the water resources
of the area. Any party to whom an
emergency order is directed may challenge such an order but shall immediately
comply with the order, pending disposition of the party's challenge. The commission shall give precedence to a
hearing on [such] the challenge over all other pending matters."
SECTION 3. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2040.
Report Title:
CWRM; Water Shortage and Emergency; Water Shortage Declaration; Notice
Description:
Amends the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies. Limits the duration of a water shortage declaration to ninety days. Limits water usage restrictions imposed on a permittee or owner and operator to twenty per cent of the permittee's or owner and operator's last reported monthly use. Requires CWRM to maintain a list of names and postal or email addresses of persons who request notification of a water shortage declaration and send them a copy of a notice of a water shortage declaration whenever water shortage is declared. Effective 7/1/2040. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
510 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO DECLARATION OF WATER SHORTAGE AND EMERGENCY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the commission on water resource management must formulate water shortage plans and adopt a reasonable system of permit classification through rulemaking to properly plan for future water shortages and provide stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the process. With such plans and permit classifications, future restrictions on water use would be applied uniformly and individual users would know in advance their relative priority during periods of water shortage.
The legislature further finds that the commission on water resource management should have the ability to adopt water shortage plans, permit classifications, and criteria outside of water management areas and should apply these plans to the owners and operators of wells and stream diversion works. As recent droughts have revealed, water shortages and emergencies can occur quickly. In 2024, all islands experienced drought conditions, and many areas suffered from severe to extreme drought. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure effective and transparent planning for water shortages within and outside of designated water management areas.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to amend the conditions, manner, and areas in which the commission on water resource management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies.
SECTION 2. Section 174C-62, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§174C-62[]] Declaration of
water shortage. (a)
The commission shall, by rule, formulate a plan for
implementation during periods of water shortage. As a part of the plan, the commission shall,
by rule, adopt a reasonable system of permit classification according to
source of water supply, method of extraction or diversion, use of water, or a
combination thereof.
(b)
The commission[, by rule,] may declare that a water shortage
exists within all or part of an area, whether within or outside of a water
management area, when insufficient water is available to meet the
requirements of the permit system or when conditions are such as to require a
temporary reduction in total water use within [the] or outside of the
water management area to protect water resources from serious harm. The commission shall publish, by rule,
a set of criteria for determining when a water shortage exists[.],
including but not limited to impacts and effects of the climate crisis.
(c) In accordance with the plan adopted under subsection (a), the commission may impose such restrictions on one or more classes of permits and on the owners and operators of wells and stream diversion works that are located outside of water management areas as may be necessary to protect the water resources of the area from serious harm and to restore them to their previous water quantity or chloride level condition.
[(d)
A declaration of water shortage and any measures adopted pursuant
thereto may be rescinded by rule by the commission.
(e)] (d) When
a water shortage is declared, the commission shall cause a notice [thereof]
of the water shortage to be published in a prominent place in a
newspaper of general circulation throughout the area[.] and on the
commission's website. The notice
shall be published each day for the first week of the shortage [and],
once a week [thereafter] for four months, and once a month thereafter
until the declaration is rescinded. The
notice shall remain on the commission's website until the declaration is
rescinded. Publication of [such]
the notice shall serve as notice to all water users in the area of the
condition of water shortage.
[(f)] (e) The
commission shall cause each permittee in the area to be notified by regular
mail and, if the permittee's electronic mail address is known, by electronic
mail of any change in the conditions of the permittee's permit, any
suspension [thereof,] of the permittee's permit, or of any other
restriction on the use of water for the duration of the water shortage.
[(g)] (f) If an emergency condition arises due to a
water shortage within any area, whether within or outside of a water management
area, and if the commission finds that the restrictions imposed under
subsection (c) are not sufficient to protect the public health, safety, or
welfare, or the health of animals, fish, or aquatic life, or a public water
supply, or recreational, municipal, agricultural, or other reasonable uses, the
commission may issue orders reciting the existence of such emergency and requiring
that such actions as the commission deems necessary to meet the emergency be
taken, including but not limited to apportioning, rotating, limiting, or
prohibiting the use of the water resources of the area. Any party to whom an emergency order is
directed may challenge such an order but shall immediately comply with the
order, pending disposition of the party's challenge. The commission shall give precedence to a
hearing on such challenge over all other pending matters."
SECTION 3. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Commission on Water Resource Management; Water Shortage and Emergency; Declaration; Notice
Description:
Amends the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
510 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to declaration of water shortage and emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the commission on water resource management must formulate water shortage plans and adopt a reasonable system of permit classification through rulemaking to properly plan for future water shortages and provide stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the process. With such plans and permit classifications, future restrictions on water use would be applied uniformly and individual users would know in advance their relative priority during periods of water shortage.
The legislature further finds that the commission on water resource management should have the ability to adopt water shortage plans, permit classifications, and criteria outside of water management areas and should apply these plans to well and stream diversion works owners and operators. As recent droughts have revealed, water shortages and emergencies can occur quickly. In 2024, all islands experienced drought conditions, and many areas suffered from severe to extreme drought. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure effective and transparent planning for water shortages within and outside of designated water management areas.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to amend the conditions, manner, and areas in which the commission on water resource management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies.
SECTION 2. Section 174C-62, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§174C-62[]] Declaration of
water shortage. (a)
The commission shall, by rule, formulate a plan for
implementation during periods of water shortage. As a part of the plan, the commission shall,
by rule, adopt a reasonable system of permit classification according to
source of water supply, method of extraction or diversion, use of water, or a
combination thereof.
(b)
The commission[, by rule,] may declare that a water shortage
exists within all or part of an area, whether within or outside of a water
management area, when insufficient water is available to meet the
requirements of the permit system or when conditions are such as to require a
temporary reduction in total water use within the area to protect water
resources from serious harm. The
commission shall publish, by rule, a set of criteria for determining
when a water shortage exists[.], including but not limited to impacts
and effects of the climate crisis.
(c) In accordance with the plan adopted under subsection (a), the commission may impose such restrictions on one or more classes of permits and outside of management areas on well and stream diversion works owners and operators as may be necessary to protect the water resources of the area from serious harm and to restore them to their previous water quantity or chloride level condition.
[(d)
A declaration of water shortage and any measures adopted pursuant
thereto may be rescinded by rule by the commission.
(e)] (d) When
a water shortage is declared, the commission shall cause a notice [thereof]
of the water shortage to be published in a prominent place in a
newspaper of general circulation throughout the area[.] and on the
commission's website. The notice
shall be published each day for the first week of the shortage and once a week
[thereafter] for four months, followed by monthly publications
until the declaration is rescinded. The
notice shall remain on the commission's website until the declaration is
rescinded. Publication of [such]
the notice shall serve as notice to all water users in the area of the
condition of water shortage.
[(f)] (e) The
commission shall cause each permittee in the area to be notified by regular
mail and, if the permittee's electronic mail address is known, by electronic
mail of any change in the conditions of the permittee's permit, any
suspension [thereof,] of the permittee's permit, or of any other
restriction on the use of water for the duration of the water shortage.
[(g)] (f) If an emergency condition arises due to a
water shortage within any area, whether within or outside of a water management
area, and if the commission finds that the restrictions imposed under
subsection (c) are not sufficient to protect the public health, safety, or
welfare, or the health of animals, fish, or aquatic life, or a public water
supply, or recreational, municipal, agricultural, or other reasonable uses, the
commission may issue orders reciting the existence of such emergency and requiring
that such actions as the commission deems necessary to meet the emergency be
taken, including but not limited to apportioning, rotating, limiting, or
prohibiting the use of the water resources of the area. Any party to whom an emergency order is
directed may challenge such an order but shall immediately comply with the
order, pending disposition of the party's challenge. The commission shall give precedence to a
hearing on such challenge over all other pending matters."
SECTION 3. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
Commission on Water Resource Management; Water Shortage and Emergency; Declaration; Notice
Description:
Amends the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
|
Status
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|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2026 | Re-Referred to WLA, JDC. |
| Apr 2, 2026 | Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457). |
| Apr 1, 2026 | House Conferee(s) discharged. |
| Dec 8, 2025 | Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. |
| Apr 15, 2025 | Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 732). |
| Apr 14, 2025 | House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Ichiyama, Lamosao, Shimizu. |
| Apr 11, 2025 | Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704). |
| Apr 10, 2025 | House disagrees with Senate amendment (s). |
| Apr 8, 2025 | Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 651) in amended form (SD 2). |
| Apr 8, 2025 | Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. |
| Apr 4, 2025 | 48 Hrs. Notice 04-08-25. |
| Apr 4, 2025 | Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1718) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). |
| Mar 27, 2025 | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura. |
| Mar 25, 2025 | The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-27-25 10:40AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. |
| Mar 21, 2025 | The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-25-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. |
| Mar 21, 2025 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. |
| Mar 21, 2025 | Reported from WTL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1214) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. |
| Mar 14, 2025 | The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WTL were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Chang, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey. |
| Mar 10, 2025 | The committee(s) on WTL has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Referred to WTL, JDC. |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Passed First Reading. |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 250). |
| Mar 4, 2025 | Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Kong, Muraoka voting no (4) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. |
| Feb 28, 2025 | Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1085), recommending passage on Third Reading. |
| Feb 27, 2025 | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. |
| Feb 25, 2025 | Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-27-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 11, 2025 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). |
| Feb 11, 2025 | Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 362) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. |
| Feb 6, 2025 | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Morikawa, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama. |
| Feb 4, 2025 | Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 02-06-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 2 |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Pending introduction. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 8, 2025 | Third Reading | Senate Floor |
Passed |
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| Mar 27, 2025 | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary |
Passed |
|
| Mar 14, 2025 | The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Water and Land |
Passed |
|
| Mar 4, 2025 | Third Reading | House Floor |
Passed |
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| Feb 27, 2025 | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs |
Passed |
|
| Feb 6, 2025 | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Water & Land |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| City and County of Honolulu | *** Support | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Department of Land and Natural Resources | ** Support | |
| Earthjustice | *** Against | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Earthjustice, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau | ** Against | |
| Hawaiʻi Climate Change and Health Working Group | ** Support | |
| Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau | *** Against | Feb 27, 2025 |
| Hawai‘i Farm Bureau | *** Against | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Honolulu Board of Water Supply | ** Support | |
| Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau | ** Against | |
| Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii | ** Against | |
| Mid-Pacific Office | *** Against | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1718
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 510
H.D. 1
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 H.B. No. 510, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DECLARATION OF WATER SHORTAGE AND EMERGENCY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Amend the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies;
(2) Limit the duration of a water shortage declaration to ninety days;
(3) Limit water usage restrictions imposed on a permittee or owner and operator to twenty percent of the permittee's or owner and operator's last reported monthly use; and
(4) Require the Commission on Water Resource Management to maintain a list of names and postal or email addresses of persons who request notification of a water shortage declaration and send them a copy of a notice of a water shortage declaration whenever a water shortage is declared.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and one individual.
Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.
Your Committee finds that water shortages and emergencies can occur quickly. For example, in 2024, all islands experienced drought conditions, with many areas suffering from severe to extreme drought. Your Committee further finds that existing law requires that the Commission on Water Resource Management formulate water shortage plans and adopt a reasonable system of permit classification through rulemaking to properly plan for future water shortages and provide stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the process. This measure will ensure effective and transparent planning for water shortages within and outside of designated water management areas while retaining an administrative rulemaking process that allows for public input when establishing criteria for determining when a water shortage exists, formulating a water shortage plan, and developing a reasonable system of permit classification.
Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
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 H.B. No. 510, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 510, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1214
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 510
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 510, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DECLARATION OF WATER SHORTAGE AND EMERGENCY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi.
Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Earthjustice, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.
Your Committee finds that the State is experiencing more frequent water shortages due to climate change, prolonged drought conditions, and aging water infrastructure. Your Committee further finds that when a water shortage occurs in an area, the county water departments or private water utilities can only restrict the water usage of customers. Your Committee also finds that the Commission on Water Resource Management (Commission) has authority over all water resources in the State. However, existing law does not provide the Commission with the latitude to declare a water shortage in non-designated water management areas and is required to declare a water shortage by a lengthy administrative rulemaking process. This measure provides the Commission with the flexibility needed to effectively respond to conditions threatening the State's water supply when issuing a water shortage declaration.
Your Committee notes the concerns in the testimony from the Department of Land and Natural Resources regarding impacts that this measure would have on farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Deleting language that would have required the Commission to include the impacts and effects of the climate crisis as a criterion for water shortage declarations;
(2) Inserting language limiting the duration of a water shortage declaration to ninety days;
(3) Inserting language authorizing the Commission to extend the duration of a water shortage declaration under certain conditions;
(4) Limiting a water usage restriction imposed by the Commission on a permittee or owner and operator to twenty percent of the permittee's or owner and operator's last reported monthly water usage;
(5) Clarifying that the Commission shall consider a permittee's or owner and operator's monthly water usage to be zero if the permittee or owner and operator has not reported monthly water usage within the previous twelve months before the date that a water shortage declaration is issued;
(6) Requiring the Commission to maintain a list of the name and address and email address of any person who requests notification of a water shortage declaration;
(7) Requiring the Commission to send by certified mail or email a copy of a notice of a water shortage declaration to persons requesting notification of a water shortage declaration whenever a water shortage is declared;
(8) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2040, to encourage further discussion; and
(9) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 510, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 510, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,
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________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1085
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 510
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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 510, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DECLARATION OF WATER SHORTAGE AND EMERGENCY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Hawaiʻi Climate Change and Health Working Group; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.
Your Committee finds that the Commission on Water Resource Management should have the ability to adopt water shortage plans, permit classifications, and criteria outside of water management areas and should apply these plans to the owners and operators of wells and stream diversion works. Your Committee further finds that it is necessary to ensure effective and transparent planning for water shortages within and outside of designated water management areas. This measure addresses this need by amending the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 510, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 362
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 510
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 H.B. No. 510 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DECLARATION OF WATER SHORTAGE AND EMERGENCY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to amend the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies.
Your Committee finds that the Commission on Water Resource Management (Commission) is tasked with formulating water shortage plans and adopting a reasonable system of permits to properly plan for future water shortages. Your Committee further finds that existing law does not allow the Commission to declare a water shortage in non-designated water management areas. As water shortages affect all users in a region, your Committee believes that it is vital to allow the Commission to respond to conditions anywhere in the State that threaten the State's water supply when issuing water shortage and emergency declarations.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
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 H.B. No. 510, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 510, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,
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____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
|
|---|---|
| Mar 24, 2025 | HB510_SD1_TESTIMONY_JDC_03-25-25_.PDF |
| Mar 14, 2025 | HB510_HD1_TESTIMONY_WTL_03-14-25_.PDF |
| Feb 27, 2025 | HB510_HD1_TESTIMONY_JHA_02-27-25_.PDF |
| Feb 5, 2025 | HB510_TESTIMONY_WAL_02-06-25_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
9MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Water and Land
1MIN
House Floor
6MIN
House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
9MIN
House Standing Committee on Water & Land
Bill Author
