HB 1985 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Summary

PART II: Allows certain extensions of the deadline for cesspool conversions. Establishes a goal for the Department of Health to prioritize the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools that pose the highest risk to human health or the environment. PART III: Authorizes and appropriates funds to the Department of Health to retain qualified consultants as necessary to identify necessary public outreach and education resources and tools and develop a comprehensive public outreach strategy and website to educate property owners and wastewater industry professionals about information and resources regarding the State's cesspool upgrade, conversion, and connection requirements and deadlines. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

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

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What changed between versions

HB1985 → HB1985_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision adds a new requirement for the Department of Health to prioritize upgrading cesspools that pose the highest risk to human health or the environment. It also clarifies the criteria for granting extension deadlines, requiring applicants to demonstrate both financial inability and prior efforts to pay. The funding source was changed from a specific revolving fund to general state revenues, and the effective date was altered to July 1, 3000.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly establishes a prioritization goal for high-risk cesspools and broadens the definition of affected parties from 'homeowners' to 'property owners'.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory goal for the Department of Health to prioritize upgrading cesspools that pose the highest risk to human health or the environment.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the criteria for granting extension deadlines to require applicants to demonstrate both financial inability and documented efforts to pay for the upgrade.

FISCAL

Changed the funding source for public outreach and education from the water pollution control revolving fund to general revenues of the State of Hawaii.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000.

SCOPE

Updated references from 'homeowners' to 'property owners' to broaden the scope of the public outreach strategy.

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 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to AEN/HHS, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 73).

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 387-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

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, FIN, referral sheet 5

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to EEP, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

20 primary · 0 co-sponsors