SB 738 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT.

Summary

Requires a wastewater treatment works to test sewage sludge and any other residual material for the presence of PFAS. Requires the Department of Health to adopt administrative rules for the safe disposal and sequestration of sewage sludge and other residual material that contain specific amounts of PFAS. Prohibits the issuance or renewal of permits if testing yields PFAS in sewage sludge or other residual material on land used for agronomic purposes, on land where drainage tiles have been installed, on land that drains into waters of the State, or land in a five hundred-year floodplain. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB738 → SB738_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's wastewater management laws to require testing for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in sewage sludge and restricts land application if PFAS are detected. The most significant change is replacing the vague 'any amount' standard with a requirement for rules specifying 'specific amounts' of PFAS that trigger safe disposal requirements. The effective date was also changed from immediate enactment to December 31, 2050, providing a long planning horizon.

Scope change

The bill now applies to wastewater treatment works that have been designed and approved for land application of sewage sludge (more specific than the original 'wastewater treatment plant'), and changes the PFAS definition to align with federal terminology.

DEFINITION

Changed PFAS definition from referencing another statute to providing a specific technical definition based on fluorinated chemical structures

REQUIREMENT

Changed PFAS threshold from 'any amount' to 'specific amounts' that the Department of Health must establish through administrative rules

TIMELINE

Extended effective date from immediate enactment to December 31, 2050

ELIGIBILITY

Narrowed applicability to wastewater treatment works specifically designed and approved for land application of sewage sludge

ENFORCEMENT

Changed permit language from 'any amount' to 'specific amounts' when determining when land application is prohibited

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 557) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 7, 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, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 2:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors