Hawaii bills · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB 306
RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- POEPOE (Democratic)
- GRANDINETTI (Democratic)
- IWAMOTO (Democratic)
- KAHALOA (Democratic)
- LEE
- M.
- LOWEN (Democratic)
- MARTEN (Democratic)
- PERRUSO (Democratic)
- TARNAS (Democratic)
- TODD (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Hawaii legislature· description
Makes failure to maintain a natural stream channel that causes an unreasonable and substantial physical obstruction of the natural flow of water a violation of the State Water Code, with certain exceptions. Establishes a period of time after receipt of written notice of certain violations of the State Water Code during which a violator may remedy the violation or enter into a corrective action plan with the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM). Gives CWRM the discretion to impose a minimum penalty per State Water Code violation, increases the maximum penalty per violation, and authorizes CWRM to consider each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Establishes factors CWRM must consider when determining the amount of the penalty. Prohibits the State from acquiring a fee simple interest in any artificial watercourse, including a canal or ditch, under certain circumstances. Allows the State to acquire a fee simple interest in the artificial watercourse if the Legislature provides prior approval by concurrent resolution. (CD1)
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.
Actions
- Jan 16, 2025 · House
Pending introduction. - Jan 17, 2025 · House
Introduced and Pass First Reading. - Jan 21, 2025 · House
Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1 - Jan 24, 2025 · House
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 01-28-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. - Jan 28, 2025 · House
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Souza; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson. - Jan 30, 2025 · House
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 22) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. - Jan 30, 2025 · House
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). - Jan 31, 2025 · House
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-05-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. - Feb 5, 2025 · House
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. - Feb 14, 2025 · House
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 742) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN. - Feb 14, 2025 · House
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4). - Feb 21, 2025 · House
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 02-24-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. - Feb 24, 2025 · House
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Lamosao, Miyake; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward. - Feb 28, 2025 · House
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1149), recommending passage on Third Reading. - Mar 4, 2025 · House
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. - Mar 6, 2025 · Senate
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 209). - Mar 6, 2025 · Senate
Passed First Reading. - Mar 6, 2025 · Senate
Referred to WTL, JDC/WAM. - Mar 10, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on WTL has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. - Mar 14, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WTL were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Chang, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey. - Mar 21, 2025 · Senate
Reported from WTL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1211) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM. - Mar 21, 2025 · Senate
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM. - Mar 27, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. - Apr 1, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. - Apr 1, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite. - Apr 4, 2025 · Senate
Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1679) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. - Apr 4, 2025 · Senate
One Day Notice 04-08-25. - Apr 8, 2025 · Senate
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. - Apr 8, 2025 · House
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 617) in amended form (SD 1). - Apr 10, 2025 · House
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s). - Apr 11, 2025 · Senate
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704). - Apr 17, 2025 · House
House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Poepoe, Lamosao Co-Chairs; Shimizu. - Apr 21, 2025 · Senate
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 755). - Dec 8, 2025 · Legislature
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. - Apr 1, 2026 · House
House Conferee(s) discharged. - Apr 2, 2026 · Senate
Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457). - Apr 17, 2026 · Senate
Re-Referred to WLA, JDC/WAM. - Apr 23, 2026 · House
House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Tarnas, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Shimizu. - Apr 24, 2026 · Senate
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 820). - Apr 27, 2026 · Senate
Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Rhoads, Hashimoto Co-Chairs. - Apr 27, 2026 · House
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 782). - Apr 28, 2026 · Senate
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-29-26 9:01AM; Conference Room 229. - Apr 29, 2026 · Senate
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229. - Apr 30, 2026 · Senate
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229. - May 1, 2026 · Senate
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 11:35 AM; Conference Room 229. - May 1, 2026 · Senate
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Rhoads, Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. - May 1, 2026 · House
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Tarnas, Morikawa, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. - May 1, 2026 · House
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 196-26) as amended in (CD 1). - May 1, 2026 · House
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26. - May 1, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 196-26). - May 1, 2026 · Senate
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26 - May 6, 2026 · Senate
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. - May 6, 2026 · House
Deferred one day 05-08-26. - May 6, 2026 · House
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816). - May 8, 2026 · House
Recommitted to Conference committee as amended in CD 1 with none voting no and Representative(s) Ratcliffe excused.