SB521 • 2026

RELATING TO ACCESS TO WATER ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Active

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

Sponsor: RICHARDS, AQUINO, CHANG, FEVELLA, GABBARD
Last action: 2026-02-13
Official status: The committee on WLA deferred the measure.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO ACCESS TO WATER ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO ACCESS TO WATER ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.
DHHL; County Board or Department of Water Supply; Access to Water; Hawaiian Home Lands; Agreements Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to work with the appropriate county board or department of water supply to provide access to potable and agricultural water on Hawaiian home lands; provided that any agreement between DHHL and that county board or department of water supply is made available to the public.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-02-13 S
The committee on WLA deferred the measure.
2026-02-12 S
The committee on HWN deferred the measure.
2026-02-10 S
The committee(s) on HWN deferred the measure until 02-12-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-02-10 S
The committee(s) on WLA deferred the measure until 02-13-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on HWN/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-01-21 S
Re-Referred to HWN/WLA, JDC.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-27 S
Re-Referred to HWN/WTL, JDC.
2025-01-21 S
Referred to HWN/WTL/EIG, JDC.
2025-01-17 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-01-17 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ACCESS TO WATER ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.
DHHL; County Board or Department of Water Supply; Access to Water; Hawaiian Home Lands; Agreements
Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to work with the appropriate county board or department of water supply to provide access to potable and agricultural water on Hawaiian home lands; provided that any agreement between DHHL and that county board or department of water supply is made available to the public.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB521

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

521

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to access to water on hawaiian home lands
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 174C,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�174C-

�
Access to water on Hawaiian home lands;
county board or department of water supply; agreements.
�
The department of Hawaiian home lands
shall work with the appropriate county board or department of water supply to
provide access to potable and agricultural water on Hawaiian home lands;
provided that any agreement between the department of Hawaiian home lands and
the county board or department of water supply shall be made available to the
public.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�

New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DHHL;
County Board or Department of Water Supply; Access to Water; Hawaiian Home
Lands; Agreements

Description:

Requires
the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to work with the appropriate county board
or department of water supply to provide access to potable and agricultural
water on Hawaiian home lands; provided that any agreement between DHHL and that
county board or department of water supply is made available to the public.

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