CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 27-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2398

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2398, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UTILITIES,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) No later than January 1, 2029, require each county board of water supply to publish a map of its service area and a list of service-restricted areas on their website; and

(2) Specify a procedure for responding to certain water availability requests.

Your Committee on Conference finds that access to clear, publicly available information about water service availability is necessary to successful housing development. Requiring the county boards of water supply to make water information more accessible to homebuilders would reduce unnecessary delays, costs, and risk to housing projects. This measure supports smarter growth by aligning housing development with existing infrastructure conditions.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2398, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2398, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ LUKE A. EVSLIN Co-Chair	____________________________ GLENN WAKAI Chair
____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair	____________________________ STANLEY CHANG Co-Chair
____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair	____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Co-Chair