Keeping Law SimpleLegislation, clearly explained
Back to Hawaii
Hawaii2026Enacted

HB1618

Law to Help Homeowners Upgrade Cesspools

Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 11:30 PM

In one sentence

This law creates a new loan fund managed by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to give low-interest or forgivable loans to eligible homeowners for upgrading, converting, or connecting their cesspools.

What it does

  • Establishes the Cesspool Conversion Revolving Loan Fund to provide financial assistance like low-interest or forgivable loans.
  • Directs the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA) to run the program and hire staff needed for management.
  • Allows counties to collect loan payments on water bills and send that money back to HGIA instead of requiring separate bank payments.
  • Sets up a special fund that can receive money from state budgets, federal sources, private donors, and future loan repayments.
  • Requires that any interest earned or fees collected stay in the fund to support future borrowers.

Who it affects

  • Low- and moderate-income homeowners who have cesspools on their property.
  • The Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, which will manage the loan program.
  • County governments that collect water bill payments for eligible loans.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not list specific income limits or exact loan amounts; these details will be set by the authority in future rules.
  • It is unclear how much total funding has been immediately available, as the fund relies on appropriations and transfers that may happen over time.

Plain language

Terms to know

Cesspool
An underground system used in some homes to hold wastewater. The law notes these can be a source of pollution threatening health and the environment.
Revolving Loan Fund
A pool of money where loans are given out, paid back with interest or fees, and then lent again to new borrowers.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

RELATING TO CESSPOOL CONVERSIONS. HGIA; Cesspool Conversion Financing Program; Cesspool Conversion Revolving Loan Fund; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Special Fund; Appropriation ($) Establishes a Cesspool Conversion Revolving Loan Fund, to be administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, to provide financial assistance, including low-interest or forgivable loans, to eligible homeowners for the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools. Appropriates funds for the establishment and hiring of a program management position and for the purposes of the Cesspool Conversion Revolving Loan Fund. (CD1)

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Act 204, on 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1306).H
  2. Act 204, 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1306).S
  3. Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).S
  4. Transmitted to Governor.H
  5. Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).H
  6. Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Muraoka, Pierick voting no (2) and none excused (0).H
  7. Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none).S
  8. 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26S
  9. Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 164-26).S
  10. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.H
  11. Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 164-26) as amended in (CD 1).H
  12. The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, McKelvey, DeCoite; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.S
  13. The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.H
  14. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 5:45PM in Conference Room 411.H
  15. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 5:20PM in Conference Room 411.H
  16. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 3:05PM in Conference Room 411.H
  17. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 12:30PM in Conference Room 325.H
  18. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 11:00AM in conference room 325.H
  19. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 11:00AM in conference room 325.H
  20. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 11:00AM in conference room 325.H

Changes

Amendments

3 stored

CD1

This amendment creates a new loan fund in Hawaii to help homeowners pay for replacing old cesspools with safer wastewater systems.

HD1

This amendment creates a new loan fund managed by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to help homeowners pay for upgrading or replacing old cesspools with safer wastewater systems.

SD1

This amendment creates a new loan fund in Hawaii to help homeowners pay for upgrading or replacing old cesspools with safer wastewater systems.