SB 1232 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Summary

Establishes a 3-year New Wastewater Technology Testing Pilot Program within the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center to test and evaluate new wastewater technology systems. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1232_SD1 → SB1232_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill update clarifies the urgency of replacing cesspools by reordering the legislative findings to prioritize public health and water quality. It corrects a financial estimate regarding reef protection and updates the legal requirement for cesspool conversion to explicitly include 'director of health-approved wastewater systems.' The bill also refines the reporting requirements for a new pilot program testing advanced wastewater technologies.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified by adding specific terminology ('director of health-approved wastewater system') to the list of acceptable alternatives for cesspool upgrades, ensuring compliance with updated health director guidelines.

REQUIREMENT

The definition of acceptable cesspool upgrades was modified to explicitly require systems to be approved by the director of health, adding clarity to the compliance standard.

TECHNICAL

A financial estimate regarding flood protection was updated to include a specific dollar figure ($836,000,000) for damages averted annually.

The order of legislative findings was changed to place public health and water quality concerns before the specific statistics on cesspool volume.

The description of the new wastewater technology pilot program was updated to change 'moneys' to 'appropriates moneys' and adjust the list of coordinating agencies for consistency.

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 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1395), recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1215) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to EEP.

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kila, La Chica, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Kapela, Olds, Sayama.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HED, EEP, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 282) 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 18, 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, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-18-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from HRE/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 234) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HRE were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Fukunaga, Hashimoto, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-31-25 1:50PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HRE/AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors