HB 734 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Summary

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)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB734_HD1 → HB734_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised from a House Draft (HD1) to a Senate Draft (SD1), updating administrative metadata and refining the policy language to emphasize statewide applicability rather than just Hawaii. The most significant substantive change is the extension of the bill's effective date from the placeholder year 3000 to December 31, 2050, ensuring the funding and review process remains active for decades. Additionally, the report requirement was added to the summary description, clarifying that the Department of Health must submit findings to the Legislature.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified to apply to wastewater systems and cesspool upgrades throughout the entire State, removing the specific geographic limitation to Hawaii in the text.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from July 1, 3000, to December 31, 2050, extending the duration of the funding and review authority.

REQUIREMENT

The summary description was updated to explicitly state that the Department of Health must provide a report to the Legislature.

SCOPE

Text was adjusted to refer to upgrades in the 'State' instead of specifically 'in Hawaii', broadening the applicability language.

TECHNICAL

Administrative metadata, including bill author names, revision numbers, and template IDs, were updated to reflect the Senate Draft version.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1163) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

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.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

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.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-12-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/AEN, WAM.

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 30).

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

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.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

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.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

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).

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 590), recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

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.

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 99) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

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.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors