THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2398

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to residential housing utilities.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 54, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§54-     Service availability for residential dwellings.  (a)  The board of water supply shall publish on its website geographic information systems reference maps of its service areas that:

     (1)  Reflect the availability of domestic water service for new residential dwelling construction or expansions of existing residential dwellings in residentially zoned areas;

     (2)  Include with specificity any limitations to the availability of domestic water service as a result of source, storage, or distribution deficiency; and

     (3)  Include sufficient supporting analysis explaining the deficiency or other limitation in paragraph (2) that disallows a service connection.

     (b)  The maps shall be published on the website of the board of water supply no later than July 1, 2027, and updated not less than annually thereafter.

     (c)  If a parcel owner disagrees with any map or analysis published by the board of water supply, the parcel owner may appeal the decision under section 91-9.  Each parcel determination shall be considered an agency decision for purposes of chapter 91.

     (d)  Residential building permit applicants and related permitting agencies may rely upon the most recent applicable map."

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 54, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§54-     Service availability for residential dwellings.  (a)  The board of water supply shall publish on its website geographic information systems reference maps of its service areas that:

     (1)  Reflect the availability of domestic water service for new residential dwelling construction or expansions of existing residential dwellings in residentially zoned areas;

     (2)  Include with specificity any limitations to the availability of domestic water service as a result of source, storage, or distribution deficiency; and

     (3)  Include sufficient supporting analysis explaining the deficiency or other limitation in paragraph (2) that disallows a service connection.

     (b)  The maps shall be published on the website of the board of water supply no later than July 1, 2027, and updated not less than annually thereafter.

     (c)  If a parcel owner disagrees with any map or analysis published by the board of water supply, the parcel owner may appeal the decision under section 91-9.  Each parcel determination shall be considered an agency decision for purposes of chapter 91.

     (d)  Residential building permit applicants and related permitting agencies may rely upon the most recent applicable map."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Residential Utilities; Public Disclosure; Building Permitting; County Boards of Water Supply

 

Description:

Requires county boards of water supply to publicly disclose through its website service connection availability for residential permitting and construction.

 

 

 

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