Environment (Water Quality)

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 619: RELATING TO STREAM WATER QUALITY.

Implements a 4-phase plan for the Department of Health to address contamination of Ulehawa Stream. Requires the University of Hawaii to provide assistance. Appropriates moneys.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAddresses stream contamination via 4-phase plan, funds cleanup, and mandates university assistance to protect water quality, directly reducing pollution.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2478: PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE AND HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND BEACHES.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate and healthy native ecosystems and beaches, shall be protected and shall not be infringed. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentConstitutional amendment explicitly protects clean water, air, ecosystems, and climate rights, directly advancing environmental protections per bill text.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 501: RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Requires the Department of Health, to the extent allowable under federal law, to prioritize the use of Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund moneys for projects by homeowners to upgrade cesspools to director-approved wastewater systems or connect homeowners' properties to sewerage systems, including projects for the installation of cluster systems or community package plants. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates cesspool upgrades to prevent groundwater pollution using water pollution funds, directly advancing clean water protection and pollution control.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 702: PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE, HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS, AND BEACHES.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate, healthy native ecosystems, and beaches, shall be protected and shall not be infringed.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly enshrines constitutional protection for clean water, air, climate, ecosystems, and beaches, directly advancing environmental protection through binding rights recognition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 1652: RELATING TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.

Exempts agricultural infrastructure and low-risk green stormwater infrastructure from regulations covering retention ponds. Defines agricultural infrastructure and low-risk green stormwater infrastructure. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts agricultural ponds and green infrastructure from stormwater regulations, reducing regulatory oversight on environmental management systems.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 2245: RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Beginning 7/1/2027, requires newly installed or modified individual wastewater systems that are near the shoreline or on highly porous soils to include denitrification capacity. Requires the Department of Health to reduce requirements for disposal systems connected to wastewater systems with denitrification capacity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates denitrification in wastewater systems near shorelines to reduce nitrogen pollution in nearshore waters, directly strengthening water quality protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Water Quality

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2232: RELATING TO CLEAN WATER.

Preserves, as state law, water quality, permitting, and aquatic resource protections that are at least as protective as federal Clean Water Act regulations and standards in effect as of January 1, 2026, and ensures their continued applicability regardless of subsequent federal amendments, repeals, or reductions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPreserves state water protections at federal 2026 standards, preventing federal rollbacks. Explicitly strengthens environmental safeguards per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 343: RELATING TO WATER.

Defines "isolated wetlands" and "wetlands". Clarifies the definition of "state waters" to include wetlands and isolated wetlands. Requires the Director of Health to determine all wetlands in the State, including whether a wetland is an isolated wetland or is included in the waters of the United States. Prohibit persons from discharging any water pollutant into or at any location that enters state waters.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits water pollutant discharges into state waters and clarifies wetlands protections, strengthening environmental regulations for water conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2753: RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Beginning 7/1/2027, requires newly installed or modified individual wastewater systems that are near the shoreline or on highly porous soils to include denitrification capacity. Requires the Department of Health to provide appropriate reductions in requirements to leach fields and wastewater systems with denitrification capacity.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates denitrification in wastewater systems near shorelines to reduce nitrogen pollution, directly protecting nearshore waters and ecosystems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Recycling Water Quality

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 597: PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE, HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS, AND BEACHES.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including present and future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate, healthy native ecosystems, and beaches shall be protected and shall not be infringed.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly recognizes and protects constitutional right to clean water, air, healthy environment, climate, ecosystems, and beaches through a constitutional amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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