STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1522-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2398

S.D. 2

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 Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2398, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require each county's board of water supply to publish on its website maps of areas of domestic water service availability, and any limitations to availability, for residential permitting and construction.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiʻi YIMBY and Avalon Development Company. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the County of Maui and Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

Your Committee finds that uncertainty around water service availability often undermines residential development project feasibility, extends timelines, and increases financial risk. Too often, projects advance through the planning and early permitting stages only to encounter previously undisclosed infrastructure constraints, resulting in avoidable delays and escalating costs. Your Committee further finds that this measure takes an important step toward supporting housing development by improving public access to information about water infrastructure capacity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2398, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair