STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3250

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1926

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1926, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RED HILL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds for studies on remediation of substances released from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; environmental monitoring and testing; research on groundwater modeling and sampling; and independent testing and verification of water data, to be published on a public dashboard; and

(2) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek reimbursement from the United States Department of Defense.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawaiʻi College of Engineering, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, Kūpuna for the Moʻopuna, Free Access Coalition, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Shimanchu Wai Protectors, Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi, and fifty-one individuals.

Your Committees find that the Hawaii State Constitution enshrined the duty of the State to conserve and protect its natural resources, including its groundwater aquifers and ecosystems. While defueling the spill-prone Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility was a significant achievement that upheld the State's obligation toward the land, more research, remediation, and monitoring remain necessary to properly care for the land and rebuild public trust. This measure will build upon the work already completed at Red Hill to ensure post-defueling remediation is better understood and maintained for future generations.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of November 20, 2121, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1926, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1926, 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 Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair