HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1303
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to water conservation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that conserving Hawaii's finite water resources is essential to ensure the health of the State's fresh water supply. In response to the recent fuel spills at Red Hill, the city and county of Honolulu's board of water supply shut down one of Oahu's largest water sources, the Halawa shaft, which subsequently led to calls for water conservation on Oahu. Other counties, in response to equipment breakdowns, drought, and other circumstances, have also had to implement calls for water conservation multiple times in recent years.

The legislature also finds that residential irrigation is a major source of water use and, frequently, wasteful misuse. When water conservation measures are in effect, reducing or ceasing irrigation is always one of the first things residents are asked to do because using less water for irrigation has a large impact for a relatively small sacrifice. The legislature further finds that the practice of maintaining landscaping that is not suited to the local climate requires more labor, money, time, and water than landscape installations that are drought‑resistant, less water-intensive, and more suited to the local conditions.

Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys to certain counties to create pilot programs that incentivize residential homeowners in certain dry areas to replace water‑intensive landscaping with alternatives that reduce water use.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the city and county of Honolulu to establish an irrigation water use reduction pilot program to provide:

(1) Incentives to residential homeowners in dry areas of Oahu that were previously served by the Aiea and Halawa wells who replace landscaping refurbishments with alternative refurbishments that:

(A) Lower water use;

(B) Include native species; and

(C) Support pollinators; and

(2) Outreach services and education to the public concerning landscaping refurbishment alternatives that reduce water use;

provided that no moneys appropriated shall be expended unless matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the city and county of Honolulu.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the city and county of Honolulu for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the county of Hawaii to establish an irrigation water use reduction pilot program to provide:

(1) Incentives to residential homeowners in dry areas of west Hawaii who replace water-intensive landscaping refurbishments with alternative refurbishments that:

(A) Lower water use;

(B) Include native species; and

(C) Support pollinators; and

(2) Outreach services and education to the public concerning landscaping refurbishment alternatives that reduce water use;

provided that no moneys appropriated shall be expended unless matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the county of Hawaii.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the county of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

City and County of Honolulu; County of Hawaii; Water Use Reduction Pilot Programs; Appropriations

Description:

Appropriates moneys to certain counties to create pilot programs that incentivize residential homeowners in certain dry areas to replace landscaping refurbishments with alternatives that reduce water use.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.