STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1205-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1730

H.D. 2

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. 1730, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Cesspool Conversion Implementation Working Group to assist the Department of Health in a review of the Department's administrative rules and practices regarding wastewater systems and cesspools and in the development of proposed changes to make cesspool conversions more affordable; and

(2) Appropriate funds for positions and hiring of a consultant to assist the Cesspool Conversion Implementation Working Group.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program; Ocean Legislative Task Force; Climate Change and Health Working Group; Puakō For Reefs; WaiHome LLC; Public Access to SunScreens Coalition; Surfrider Foundation, Hawaiʻi Region; The Nature Conservancy Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; WAI: Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations; and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that private individuals will be invited by the Director of Health, rather than required, to participate as members of the Cesspool Conversion Implementation Working Group; and

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

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. 1730, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1730, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair