SB 329 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.

Summary

Requires at least fifty per cent of treatment works effluent to be R-1 recycled water by January 1, 2045. Requires each county to report to the Department of Health by 1/1/2027 on the feasibility of recycling treatment works effluent that meets certain standards. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB329 → SB329_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from a draft to House of Representatives version 1 (HD1), shifting the focus from mandating recycled water usage and banning sewage discharge to requiring counties to report on the feasibility of recycling wastewater. The specific requirement to recycle 50% of effluent by 2045 was removed, and the ban on discharging sewage into state waters was deleted. Instead, the bill now mandates that counties submit a feasibility report to the Department of Health by January 1, 2027, regarding the potential for recycling water for irrigation or other uses.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from imposing direct operational mandates on treatment plants and sewage discharge to establishing a reporting requirement for counties to assess future recycling capabilities.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the mandate requiring at least 50% of treatment works effluent to be recycled water by January 1, 2045.

Removed the prohibition on discharging treated or raw sewage into state waters after December 31, 2030.

Added a requirement for each county to report to the Department of Health by January 1, 2027, on the feasibility of recycling treatment works effluent.

TIMELINE

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

REPORTING

Added specific factors counties must consider when estimating feasibility, including treatment costs, delivery costs, and local demand.

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 20, 2025

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1393) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP, FIN, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 39).

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Ihara. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-18-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 178) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-27-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

8 primary · 1 co-sponsor