HCR 33 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

ENCOURAGING HAWAIʻI COUNTY, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PUAKŌ COMMUNITY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI AT HILO, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, TO COMPLETE THE PUAKŌ SEWAGE PROJECT.

This bill encourages Hawaii County to work with the Puako community, the Department of Health, and other partners to finish the Puako Sewage Project, which aims to replace aging cesspools with modern wastewater systems. The project combines advanced wastewater collection technology with fiber optic internet infrastructure to address both environmental pollution and the digital divide in rural areas. By using a public-private partnership model, the initiative seeks to create a replicable solution that can help other communities across Hawaii tackle similar sewage challenges while restoring local coral reefs.

Issues: ✓ Environment ✓ Technology

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Mar 10, 2026 Last action May 8, 2026

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What changed between versions

HCR33 → HCR33_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to include the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo as a key partner in the Puakō Sewage Project, alongside the County, Department of Health, and community stakeholders. This addition formally recognizes the university's role in the project's planning and execution, ensuring its academic and technical contributions are acknowledged in the legislative resolution. The change expands the collaborative framework to include higher education, potentially strengthening the project's scientific oversight and long-term sustainability.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo as a required partner in the Puakō Sewage Project, whereas the original version only listed the County, Department of Health, and other stakeholders.

SCOPE

Added the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo as a named partner in the 'Whereas' clauses and the 'Be It Resolved' section, formalizing its role in the project collaboration.

Updated the list of recipients for certified copies of the resolution to include the Chancellor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, ensuring the university is notified of the official resolution.

TECHNICAL

Adjusted formatting and capitalization in the title and body text to reflect the inclusion of the university and ensure consistency with standard legislative style.

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

May 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Resolution adopted in final form.

lower

May 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted as amended in SD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Hussey, Kong, Quinlan excused (3).

lower

May 8, 2026

Introduced

House agrees to Senate amendment(s).

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 767) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from AEN/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3918) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey, Keohokalole.

upper

Apr 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, DeCoite.

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 04-17-26 3:02PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to AEN/HHS.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 542).

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1914-26), recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Yamashita; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Gedeon.

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on ECD with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1607-26), recommending referral to ECD.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kusch, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Quinlan.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to EEP, ECD, referral sheet 18

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Offered

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

To be offered.

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors