SB 21 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS.

Summary

Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish, no later than 7/1/2026, a Water Carrier Inflationary Cost Index automatic adjustment mechanism and waive or exempt any water carrier from any requirement under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action Apr 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB21_SD1 → SB21_SD2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Hawaii's water carrier regulations to create a new automatic rate adjustment mechanism tied to inflation, allowing carriers to adjust rates annually based on economic data without filing separate rate cases. The bill also clarifies tariff filing requirements, adds provisions for temporary rate increases during financial hardship, and grants the commission broader discretion to exempt carriers from certain regulations when deemed unjust or not in the public interest.

Scope change

The bill expands the Public Utilities Commission's authority to implement automatic inflation-based rate adjustments for water carriers, while also adding new provisions for temporary rate increases and regulatory exemptions.

REQUIREMENT

New automatic adjustment mechanism requiring water carriers to adjust rates annually based on the Gross Domestic Product Price Index, capped at plus or minus five percent per year.

Changed notice period for automatic adjustment mechanism surcharge changes from thirty days to forty-five days, and modified tariff filing language to clarify commission authority.

DEFINITION

New definition of 'automatic adjustment mechanism' as any rate adjustment mechanism allowing carriers to change rates between rate cases.

ENFORCEMENT

New provision allowing commission to authorize temporary rate increases when carriers show probable entitlement and financial need, with requirements for refunds if increases are later found unjustified.

New authority for commission to waive or exempt water carriers from chapter requirements upon determination that requirements are unjust, unreasonable, or not in public interest.

TIMELINE

Effective date changed from January 1, 2026 to July 1, 2050, which appears to be a placeholder or error in the draft.

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

Amendments

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:15 PM; Conference Room 225.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 3:30PM in Conference Room 411.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 2:00PM in Conference Room 411.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 12:30PM in Conference Room 329.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 11:30AM in Conference Room 329.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-23-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-22-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 453).

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Iwamoto, Lowen voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 13 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Alcos, Ward.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5).

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1499) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Marten; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Tam, Pierick.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1200) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to TRN, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 65) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 02-20-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 251) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA, CPN.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 8, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors