STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1279

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1303

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1303, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER CONSERVATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply to create a pilot program that incentivizes residential homeowners in certain dry areas to replace water-intensive landscaping with alternatives that reduce water use.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual.

Your Committees find that water conservation and efficiency of water use are essential because climate change is expected to reduce future freshwater availability in the State and may cause an increase in the frequency and severity of drought events. Your Committees believe that incentives for residential homeowners to replace water-intensive landscaping with alternatives that use less water is an effective way to reduce residential water use in the State. This measure will conserve the State's finite water resources and ensure the health of the State's fresh water supply.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1303, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1303, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair