RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UTILITIES.

Housing

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: INOUYE, CHANG, KEOHOKALOLE, Elefante, Kanuha, San Buenaventura
Last action: 2026-05-27
Official status: Act 045, on 05/27/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1145).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not specify the exact procedure for responding to certain water availability requests.

Rules for Residential Housing Utilities

This law requires county boards of water supply to publish maps showing the availability of domestic water service for new residential construction on their websites by July 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

Requires each county board of water supply to publish a map of its service area and list any areas with limited or no water service due to shortages on their website.
The maps must show where domestic water is available for new residential construction or expansions in residential zones.
Each board must update the maps on their website at least once every year starting from July 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

County boards of water supply
Homeowners and builders looking to construct or expand homes in residential areas

Terms To Know

Service area map: A map showing the areas where a county board of water supply can provide domestic water services.
Parcel owner: The person who owns a piece of land or property.

Limits and Unknowns

It is unclear how disputes over water service availability are resolved.
Does not specify the exact procedure for responding to certain water availability requests.

Amendments

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

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB2398 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2398 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2398 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2398 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2398 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2398 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: SB2398 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2398 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2398 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2398 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2398 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2398 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UTILITIES .

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB2398 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2398 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2398 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UTILITIES .

Bill History

2026-05-27 H
Act 045, on 05/27/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1145).
2026-05-27 S
Act 045, 05/27/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1145).
2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-07 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (6) and none excused (0).
2026-05-05 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 814).
2026-05-01 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fukunaga).
2026-05-01 H
Deferred one day 05-06-26.
2026-04-29 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 05-01-26.
2026-04-29 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 27-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-04-29 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-26.
2026-04-29 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 27-26).
2026-04-27 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Hashem, Tarnas; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-27 S
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) Wakai, Chang, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-04-27 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 761).
2026-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-27-26 10:11AM; Conference Room 224.
2026-04-24 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Wakai Chair; Chang, Keohokalole Co-Chairs; Fevella.
2026-04-21 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800).
2026-04-21 H
House Conferees Appointed: Evslin, Hashem, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Cochran.
2026-04-16 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
2026-04-16 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-16 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 655).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (6) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-09 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
2026-04-09 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2034-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-02 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.
2026-03-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-30 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (5) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
2026-03-30 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1522-26), recommending referral to JHA.
2026-03-24 H
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Poepoe; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Shimizu; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.
2026-03-20 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 03-24-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-20 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with Representative(s) Alcos, Poepoe voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Muraoka voting no (3) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-03-20 H
Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1308-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.
2026-03-18 H
The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Grandinetti, Kila, Kitagawa, La Chica, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran, Muraoka; and Excused: none.
2026-03-16 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Wednesday, 03-18-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to HSG, WAL, JHA, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 228) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-03-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-05 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-05 S
Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2792) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-02-26 S
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao.
2026-02-20 S
The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 02-26-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-02-12 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN.
2026-02-12 S
Reported from EIG/HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2225) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.
2026-02-05 S
The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Elefante, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-02-05 S
The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite, Fevella.
2026-02-02 S
The committee(s) on EIG/HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-01-28 S
Referred to EIG/HOU, CPN.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-20 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UTILITIES.
County Board of Water Supply; Water Service Availability; Publication; Service Area Map; Service-Restricted Areas
No later than 1/1/2029, requires each county board of water supply to publish a map of its service area and a list of service-restricted areas on their website. Specifies a procedure for responding to certain water availability requests. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2398

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2398

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to residential housing utilities
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 54, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�54-
�
Service availability for residential dwellings.
�
(a)
�
The board of water supply shall publish on
its website geographic information systems reference maps of its service areas
that:

����
(1)
�
Reflect the availability of domestic
water service for new residential dwelling construction or expansions of
existing residential dwellings in residentially zoned areas;

����
(2)
�
Include with specificity any
limitations to the availability of domestic water service as a result of
source, storage, or distribution deficiency; and

����
(3)
�
Include sufficient supporting
analysis explaining the deficiency or other limitation in paragraph (2) that disallows
a service connection.

����
(b)
�
The maps shall be published on the website of
the board of water supply no later than July 1, 2027, and updated not less than
annually thereafter.

����
(c)
�
If a parcel owner disagrees with any map or
analysis published by the board of water supply, the parcel owner may appeal
the decision under section 91-9.
�
Each
parcel determination shall be considered an agency decision for purposes of
chapter 91.

����
(d)
�
Residential building permit applicants and
related permitting agencies may rely upon the most recent applicable map.
"

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 54, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to part III to be appropriately designated
and to read as follows:

����
"
�54-
�
Service availability for residential dwellings.
�
(a)
�
The board of water supply shall publish on
its website geographic information systems reference maps of its service areas
that:

����
(1)
�
Reflect the availability of domestic
water service for new residential dwelling construction or expansions of
existing residential dwellings in residentially zoned areas;

����
(2)
�
Include with specificity any
limitations to the availability of domestic water service as a result of
source, storage, or distribution deficiency; and

����
(3)
�
Include sufficient supporting
analysis explaining the deficiency or other limitation in paragraph (2) that
disallows a service connection.

����
(b)
�
The maps shall be published on the website of
the board of water supply no later than July 1, 2027, and updated not less than
annually thereafter.

����
(c)
�
If a parcel owner disagrees with any map or
analysis published by the board of water supply, the parcel owner may appeal
the decision under section 91-9.
�
Each
parcel determination shall be considered an agency decision for purposes of
chapter 91.

����
(d)
�
Residential building permit applicants and
related permitting agencies may rely upon the most recent applicable map.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Residential
Utilities; Public Disclosure; Building Permitting; County Boards of Water
Supply

Description:

Requires
county boards of water supply to publicly disclose through its website service
connection availability for residential permitting and construction.

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