SB 2002 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WATER.

Summary

Establishes within the Department of Land and Natural Resources a working group to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the governance and structure of the Commission on Water Resource Management to ensure that it effectively fulfills its constitutional public trust responsibilities while maintaining operational efficiency and implementation capacity. Sunsets the working group on 1/1/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Mar 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2002_SD1 → SB2002_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision updates the legislative metadata, including sponsors and dates, and clarifies the legal history regarding the commission's independence. The most significant substantive change is the removal of the requirement for the chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources to serve as the commission's chairperson, aiming to reduce conflicts of interest. Additionally, the effective date of the law is set to March 22, 2075, and the scope of water shortage notifications is clarified.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on water resource management, but the applicability of the commission's leadership structure has changed by removing the mandatory chairperson role from the DLNR board.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the requirement that the chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources must serve as the chairperson of the Commission on Water Resource Management, allowing for greater independence.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from immediate approval to March 22, 2075.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the description of water shortage notification requirements to clarify publication frequency and duration.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata including sponsor names, revision numbers, and citation references to reflect the new session.

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, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1301-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 145) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

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

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 10:35AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from WLA/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2600) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA/PSM, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors