HB1989 • 2026

RELATING TO WATER RETENTION.

Budget Education Technology Water

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: LOWEN, AMATO, GRANDINETTI, ILAGAN, KAPELA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KUSCH, MARTEN, MATSUMOTO, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, SOUZA, TAM, TEMPLO
Last action: 2026-02-04
Official status: The committee(s) on HED recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on the exact methods to be used in capturing, retaining, or storing rainwater.

Water Retention Study

This bill directs the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology to study ways to capture, retain, and store rainwater for large counties with populations over 500,000, requires annual reports to the Legislature, and appropriates $750,000 from state funds.

What This Bill Does

Directs the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) to conduct a study on capturing, retaining, and storing rainwater and storm water runoff for counties with populations over 500,000.
Requires SOEST to identify recharge areas on maps for these counties.
Analyzes the flow and runoff of both rainwater and storm water in large counties.
Evaluates methods to capture, retain, and store excess water for future use.
Appropriates $750,000 from state funds for fiscal year 2026-2027 to support the study.

Who It Names or Affects

The University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).
Counties with populations over 500,000.
The Legislature, which will receive annual reports from SOEST.

Terms To Know

Recharge area: An area where water is added to an underground aquifer or reservoir.
Runoff: Water that flows over the land surface and does not infiltrate into the ground.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only applies to counties with populations greater than 500,000.
It is unclear if or when this bill will become law as it has been deferred by a committee.

Bill History

2026-02-04 H
The committee(s) on HED recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
2026-01-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Wednesday, 02-04-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO WATER RETENTION.
SOEST; Water Retention; Study; Report; Appropriation ($)
Directs the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology to conduct a study that identifies, analyzes, and evaluates possible methods to capture, retain, and store rainwater and storm water runoff for counties with a population of more than five hundred thousand. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1989

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1989

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to water retention
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that the State has experienced a significant decline in
rainfall over recent decades.
�
A 2016
study from the university of Hawai
ʻ
i concluded that over
ninety per cent of the State suffered a decline in annual and seasonal rainfall
since 1920.
�
Simultaneously, the State is
also seeing more frequent rainfall extremes per year according to a 2015 study
led by researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
�
Drier ground conditions
decrease the ability of soil to absorb water, leading to increased runoff and
erosion when intense rainfall quickly saturates the soil.

����
The legislature further finds that studying
possible solutions for capturing, retaining, and storing excess rainwater,
including in the form of a recharge area, will prove beneficial in preserving a
sufficient capacity of freshwater, reducing the risk of catastrophic flooding,
and providing additional resources for agriculture, commercial or domestic use.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Direct
the university of Hawai
ʻ
i school of ocean and earth
science and technology to conduct an annual study that identifies, analyzes,
and evaluates possible methods to capture, retain, and store rainwater and
storm water runoff for counties with a population of more than five hundred
thousand; and

����
(2)
�
Appropriate
funds to conduct the study.

����
SECTION 2.
�

For any county with a population greater than five hundred thousand, the
university of Hawai
ʻ
i school of ocean and
earth science and technology shall conduct a study that:

����
(1)
�
Identifies
recharge areas on a map;

����
(2)
�
Analyzes
the flows and runoff of both rainwater and storm water;

����
(3)
�
Identifies
and evaluates possible methods to capture, retain, and store rainwater and
storm water runoff for future use.

����
SECTION 3.
�

The university of Hawai
ʻ
i school of ocean and
earth science and technology shall submit a report of its findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session
.

����
SECTION 4.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $750,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2026-2027 for the purposes of this Act.

����
The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the university of Hawai
ʻ
i for the purposes of
this Act.

����
SECTION 5.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

SOEST; Water
Retention; Study; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Directs
the University of Hawai
ʻ
i School of Ocean and Earth Science
and Technology to conduct a study that identifies, analyzes, and evaluates
possible methods to capture, retain, and store rainwater and storm water runoff
for counties with a population of more than five hundred thousand.
�
Requires an annual report to the
Legislature.
�
Appropriates funds.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.