RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: EVSLIN, LOWEN
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify how much funding will be provided.

Rules for Wastewater Systems

This bill requires the Department of Health to review rules and practices related to wastewater systems and cesspool upgrades, aiming to make them more affordable without harming water quality.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Health to work with other agencies and professionals to look at current rules and practices for wastewater systems and cesspools.
Asks the Department of Health to suggest changes that could make these systems more affordable while keeping water clean.
Appropriates funds for a consultant to help review rules and policies.
Requires the Department of Health to report their findings and recommendations to the Legislature by 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Health
Other state agencies like the University of Hawaii, Hawaiian Home Lands, and local counties
Wastewater industry professionals

Terms To Know

Cesspool: An outdated system that stores wastewater underground without treating it properly.
Affordable solutions: Methods or systems that do not cost too much money to install and maintain.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of funding appropriated.
It is unclear what specific changes will be proposed by the Department of Health.
The effectiveness of these changes in making wastewater systems more affordable without harming water quality remains uncertain.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment requires the Department of Health to review rules and practices related to wastewater systems and cesspool upgrades, aiming to make these improvements more affordable without harming water quality.

The Department of Health must consult with various agencies and professionals to review existing rules and propose changes that can reduce costs for wastewater system upgrades and cesspool conversions while maintaining water quality standards.
Funds are appropriated to hire a consultant who will advise on rule and policy changes to make these improvements more affordable.

The exact amount of funds appropriated is not specified in the amendment text.
The effectiveness and specific details of proposed changes are yet to be determined as they depend on future consultations and reports.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment requires the Department of Health to review rules and practices related to wastewater systems and cesspool conversions, propose changes to make these upgrades more affordable without harming water quality, and submit a report to the legislature.

The Department of Health must consult with various agencies and professionals to review existing rules and practices for wastewater systems and cesspool conversions.
Proposed changes should aim to reduce costs while ensuring that water quality is not compromised.
A consultant will be hired using appropriated funds to advise on rule and policy changes.
The department must submit a report of findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature by 20 days before the regular session in 2027.

The exact amount of funding for hiring a consultant is not specified.
The amendment does not provide specific details on what changes will be made or how affordability and water quality will be balanced.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2025-03-19 S
Reported from HHS/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1163) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2025-03-12 S
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-12 S
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-07 S
The committee(s) on HHS/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-12-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2025-03-04 S
Referred to HHS/AEN, WAM.
2025-02-28 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-02-28 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 30).
2025-02-27 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-27 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 881), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-20 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos, Ward.
2025-02-18 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-20-25 12:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-13 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kitagawa, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-13 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 590), recommending referral to FIN.
2025-02-11 H
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 02-11-25 10:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-04 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-04 H
Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 99) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.
2025-01-30 H
The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
2025-01-27 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Thursday, 01-30-25 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to EEP, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.
DOH; Rules; Wastewater Systems; Cesspool Conversion; Report; Appropriations ($)
Requires the Department of Health, in consultation with various agencies and professionals, to review rules and practices and propose changes that have the potential to make wastewater systems and cesspool upgrades more affordable without compromising water quality. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB734

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

734

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to wastewater systems
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that the health
of Hawaii's people and quality of Hawaii's waters are being harmed by pollution
from cesspools.
�
Hawaii has more than
eighty thousand cesspools that discharge about fifty million gallons of
wastewater into the State's groundwater every day.
�
Cesspools are antiquated, substandard systems
that damage public health; pollute drinking water; and lower water quality in
streams, ground waters, nearshore marine areas, and the ocean.
�
Cesspool pollution also harms public
recreation and the precious coral reefs on which Hawaii's economy, shoreline,
fisheries, and native species depend.
�
The United States Geological Survey estimates
that reefs in Hawaii provide flood protection benefits to six thousand eight
hundred people and $836,000,000 annually in averted damages to property and
economic activity.
�
To protect the public
health and environment, including coral reefs, cesspools should be replaced by
connecting homes to sewerage systems or, in areas that are too remote to be
feasibly connected, upgraded either with individual on-site wastewater disposal
systems or cluster wastewater treatment systems.
�
Maintaining the cleanliness of the State's
waters is a matter of statewide concern that falls under the legislature's
obligation pursuant to article XI, section 7, of the Hawaii State Constitution.

����
To address
the State's cesspool pollution, Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, required
all cesspools to be upgraded or converted to a septic system or aerobic
treatment unit system or connected to a sewerage system before January 1, 2050,
with certain exemptions.
�
Act 153,
Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, amended the law to instead require that every
cesspool in the State, excluding cesspools granted exemptions by the director
of health, shall be upgraded or converted to "a director-approved
wastewater system" or connected to a sewerage system.
�
The legislature believes it is also critical
that cesspool conversions be affordable for homeowners and government entities.

����
The
legislature further finds that rules and policies adopted in other states, if
adopted by the department, may improve public health and the environment more
affordably without compromising water quality.
�

The legislature notes that administrative

rules adopted almost a decade ago
currently
may
exclude some
feasible affordable solutions.

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

����
(1)
�
Require the department of health, in
consultation with various agencies and professionals, to review rules and
practices and propose changes that have the potential to make wastewater
systems and cesspool upgrades more affordable without compromising water
quality; and

����
(2)
�
Appropriate
funds
.

����
SECTION
2.
�
(a)
�

The department of health shall, in consultation with:

����
(1)
�
The university of Hawaii at Manoa:

���������
(A)
�
Water resources research center;

���������
(B)
�
Sea grant college program; and

���������
(C)
�
College of engineering;

����
(2)
�
The department of Hawaiian home lands;

����
(3)
�
The counties;

����
(4)
�
Other states;

����
(5)
�
Wastewater industry professionals; and

����
(6)
�
Any other individual or organization deemed
necessary by the department of health,

review its rules and practices and propose changes that
have the potential to make wastewater systems and cesspool upgrades in Hawaii
more affordable without compromising water quality.
�

����
(b)
�
The department of health may adopt rules
pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the purposes of this Act.

����
(c)
�
The department of health 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 the
regular session of
2027.

����
SECTION
3.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department
of health to hire a consultant to advise on changes to its rules and policies that
have the potential to make wastewater systems and cesspool upgrades more
affordable without compromising water quality.

����
The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the
department of health for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOH;
Rules; Wastewater Systems; Cesspool Conversion; Appropriation

Description:

Requires
the Department of Health, in consultation with various agencies and
professionals, to review rules and practices and propose changes
that
have the potential to
make
wastewater systems and cesspool upgrades more affordable without compromising
water quality.
�
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.