Informing the Legislature that on July 8, 2024, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2743 HD2 SD1 CD1 (ACT 217).

This bill directs the University of Hawaii to create a detailed map that identifies which areas with old cesspools should be prioritized for connection to centralized sewer systems by the year 2050. To support this mapping project, the state will provide approximately $350,814 in funding to the university for the necessary research and analysis. The goal is to help landowners and local governments make informed decisions about whether to upgrade their private sewage systems or wait for public infrastructure expansion. This initiative aims to address the environmental risks posed by untreated sewage currently leaking from thousands of cesspools into Hawaii's water sources.