HB 1921 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Summary

Allows an existing cesspool that lawfully serves a single dwelling or dwelling unit in a priority level 3 area to continue serving that dwelling or dwelling unit and additional bedrooms constructed on the same parcel and within the existing dwelling or dwelling unit, subject to certain conditions. Authorizes the Department of Health to adopt rules and restrict additional bedrooms where evidence demonstrates that continued cesspool use impacts water quality or human health. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Mar 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1921_HD1 → HB1921_HD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This version of the bill refines the rules for using old cesspools in specific areas. It clarifies that new bedrooms can be added to homes served by these cesspools, provided the new rooms are built inside the existing structure rather than as separate units. It also updates the technical criteria for identifying eligible areas and strengthens the Department of Health's ability to restrict usage if water quality or health risks are proven.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on existing cesspools in priority level 3 areas, but the eligibility criteria for adding bedrooms have been narrowed to exclude new separate structures.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that additional bedrooms are only permitted if constructed within the existing dwelling unit, explicitly prohibiting connections to new separate structures.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the approval date threshold for existing cesspools from 'prior to' to 'before' March 21, 2016.

TECHNICAL

Added a requirement that the cesspool prioritization tool must use block spatial resolution instead of the default census tract resolution.

ENFORCEMENT

Revised the Department of Health's authority to explicitly include the power to restrict additional bedrooms when evidence shows impacts on water quality or human health.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to AEN/HHS, JDC.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 317).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Cochran, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Sayama.

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 311-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to EEP, JHA, referral sheet 5

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to EEP, HLT, JHA, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

13 primary · 1 co-sponsor