STAND. COM. REP. NO. 641

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1405

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1405 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Commission on Water Resource Management and Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in partnership with the University of Hawaii, to conduct research on limu to understand the impacts of groundwater use on groundwater-dependent ecosystems;

(2) Require a joint report to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Water Resources Research Center; Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that groundwater-dependent ecosystems rely on fresh water from springs and submarine groundwater discharge. Native species such as limu are particularly vulnerable to changes in discharge and are an important indicator of coastal ecosystem health. Limu holds cultural significance not only as an important food source, but also for the continuation of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices. A joint effort by the listed entities will allow the State to better understand the impacts of water use, well development, pumping, and water quality on limu and groundwater-dependent ecosystems.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding the Department of Health as an agency responsible for collaborating and submitting a joint report to the Legislature on the limu research;

(2) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(3) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $250,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1405, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1405, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair