Hawaii Senate Bill 3

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Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)
Status: Introduced on January 15 2025 - 25% progression
Action: 2025-01-31 - The committee(s) on WTL/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-25 1:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
Pending: Senate Water and Land Committee
Hearing: Feb 3 @ 1:05 pm in Conference Room 229 & Videoconference
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]

Authorizes the Commission of Water Resource Management to retain independent legal counsel. Repeals the position of First Deputy to the Chairperson of the CWRM and establishes the position of Executive Director of the CWRM. Authorizes entities to challenge an emergency order of the CWRM under certain conditions. Establishes fines for certain water use offenses. Amends the CWRM's authority to declare water emergencies and issue orders to address them and declare water shortages and related notice requirements. Adds the management of groundwater near the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility to the powers and duties of the CWRM. Transfers all rights, powers, functions, and duties of DLNR relating to water resource management to CWRM. Effective 7/1/2026, amends the composition of the CWRM, amends the designation of the Chairperson of the CWRM, limits CWRM's placement within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes only, and adds one member to the nominating committee for CWRM, to be appointed and by the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Relating To Water.

Sen. Lorraine Inouye [D]	Sen. Stanley Chang [D]	Sen. Carol Fukunaga [D]	Sen. Troy Hashimoto [D]
Sen. Angus McKelvey [D]	Sen. Kurt Fevella [R]

Date	Chamber	Action
2025-01-31	Senate	The committee(s) on WTL/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-25 1:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2025-01-16	Senate	Referred to WTL/PSM, JDC/WAM.
2025-01-15	Senate	Introduced and passed First Reading.
2025-01-08	Senate	Pending Introduction.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=3&year=2025
Text	https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB3_.HTM