SB 446 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Summary

Beginning 7/1/2025, prohibits the construction, modification, or expansion of a landfill unit or any component of a landfill unit mauka of the underground injection control line without first establishing a buffer zone of not less than one-quarter mile around the landfill unit. Prohibits the utilization of fly ash, bottom ash, or a combination of fly and bottom ash from a municipal waste combustor, including any ash residue that remains after removal of metals for recycling into new metal products, for the purposes of road building, construction, or as alternative daily cover material on a landfill. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD2)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Mar 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB446_SD1 → SB446_SD2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This revised version of SB 446 strengthens protections for Hawaii's aquifers by tightening landfill restrictions and updating buffer zone requirements. The bill now explicitly prohibits landfills near underground water sources and adds a new definition for 'no pass zones' to prevent contamination of drinking water supplies. It also expands restrictions on fly ash and bottom ash usage in construction projects.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily addressing aquifer protection to also explicitly prohibiting landfill construction within one-quarter mile of underground injection control lines, with additional protections for construction and demolition landfills.

REQUIREMENT

Buffer zone requirement changed from one-half mile to one-quarter mile around landfills, affecting where new landfills can be built.

Fly ash and bottom ash restrictions moved to a separate subsection with clearer language about disposal requirements in double-lined landfills.

Added explicit prohibition on constructing, modifying, or expanding landfills mauka (inland) of underground injection control lines.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'no pass zone', 'mauka', and 'underground injection control line' to clarify protected areas.

TIMELINE

Effective date changed from July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2050, significantly delaying implementation of restrictions.

TECHNICAL

Added metadata and formatting elements including bill author information and summary descriptions not present in the original 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 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP, WAL, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 161) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella, Keohokalole. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) DeCorte, Lee, C.). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 632) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 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

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-12-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/EIG, WAM.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors