STAND. COM. REP. NO. 874-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1618

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1618, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOL CONVERSIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a Cesspool Conversion Revolving Loan Fund, to be administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, to provide financial assistance, including low-interest or forgivable loans, to eligible homeowners for the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program; University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Public Utilities Commission; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; Climate Change and Health Working Group; Friends of Hanauma Bay; Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force; Public Access to SunScreens Coalition; The Nature Conservancy Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Surfrider Foundation, Hawaiʻi Region; WAI: Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations; and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Procurement Office.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1618, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair