SB 984 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.

Summary

Requires a landowner in possession of ten thousand or more acres in the State to be liable for damages and fines arising from runoff originating on the land and entering into state waters. Requires the Department of Health to prioritize enforcement of water pollution control regulations in rural areas where there are existing reports of runoff and other terms of water pollution. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

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 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB984_SD1 → SB984_SD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from Session 1 to Session 2, updating associated metadata and dates. The most significant change is the effective date, which was moved from immediate approval to a specific future date of April 23, 2057. Additionally, the text regarding the Department of Health's rule-making authority was updated to explicitly reference this new effective date.

Scope change

The bill's applicability remains focused on agricultural runoff and water pollution, but the timeline for when these rules and liabilities become active has been significantly delayed.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from 'upon approval' to 'April 23, 2057', delaying the enforcement of the law by over a decade.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was updated from S.D. 1 to S.D. 2, and associated metadata such as author names and timestamps were altered.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for the Department of Health to adopt rules was updated to include the new effective date of 4/23/2057.

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 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1250) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP, WAL, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 233) 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: Senator(s) Inouye, Richards, San Buenaventura. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 9:40AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 542) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

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 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 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN/HHS, JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 2 co-sponsors