HB 306HawaiiWaiting for committee action

RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

What it does

Official summary

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.

More detail

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)

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More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 16
Passed HouseMar 4
Passed SenateApr 8
To Governor
Became Law

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. May 8Recommitted to Conference committee as amended in CD 1 with none voting no and Representative(s) Ratcliffe excused.Latest
2. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
3. May 6Deferred one day 05-08-26.Minor
4. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
5. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 11:35 AM; Conference Room 229.
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
6. May 1The 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.Minor
7. May 1The 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.Minor
8. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 196-26) as amended in (CD 1).
9. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 196-26).
11. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
12. Apr 30Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.
13. Apr 29Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.
14. Apr 28Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-29-26 9:01AM; Conference Room 229.
15. Apr 27Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Rhoads, Hashimoto Co-Chairs.
16. Apr 27Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 782).Minor
17. Apr 24Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 820).Minor
18. Apr 23House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Tarnas, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Shimizu.
19. Apr 17Re-Referred to WLA, JDC/WAM.Minor
20. Apr 2Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).Minor
21. Apr 1House Conferee(s) discharged.
2025
1. Dec 8Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.Minor
2. Apr 21Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 755).Minor
3. Apr 17House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Poepoe, Lamosao Co-Chairs; Shimizu.
4. Apr 11Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).Minor
5. Apr 10House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
6. Apr 8Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
7. Apr 8Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 617) in amended form (SD 1).
8. Apr 4Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1679) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
9. Apr 4One Day Notice 04-08-25.
10. Apr 1The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
11. Apr 1The 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.Minor
12. Mar 27The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
13. Mar 21Reported from WTL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1211) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.
14. Mar 21Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.Minor
15. Mar 14The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
16. Mar 10The committee(s) on WTL has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
17. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 209).Minor
18. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
19. Mar 6Referred to WTL, JDC/WAM.Minor
20. Mar 4Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
21. Feb 28Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1149), recommending passage on Third Reading.
22. Feb 24The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
23. Feb 21Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 02-24-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
24. Feb 14Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 742) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
25. Feb 14Report 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).Minor
26. Feb 5The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
27. Jan 31Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-05-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
28. Jan 30Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 22) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA. Result: pass.Lower
29. Jan 30Passed 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).Minor
30. Jan 28The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
31. Jan 24Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 01-28-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
32. Jan 21Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1Minor
33. Jan 17Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
34. Jan 16Pending introduction.Introduced

Issue with this bill?

HB 306HawaiiWaiting for committee action

RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

What it does

Official summary

More detail

Where do you stand?

Tell your reps

Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.

More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 16
Passed HouseMar 4
Passed SenateApr 8
To Governor
Became Law

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. May 8Recommitted to Conference committee as amended in CD 1 with none voting no and Representative(s) Ratcliffe excused.Latest
2. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
3. May 6Deferred one day 05-08-26.Minor
4. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
5. May 1Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 11:35 AM; Conference Room 229.
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
6. May 1The 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.Minor
7. May 1The 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.Minor
8. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 196-26) as amended in (CD 1).
9. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 196-26).
11. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
12. Apr 30Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.
13. Apr 29Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.
14. Apr 28Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-29-26 9:01AM; Conference Room 229.
15. Apr 27Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Rhoads, Hashimoto Co-Chairs.
16. Apr 27Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 782).Minor
17. Apr 24Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 820).Minor
18. Apr 23House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Tarnas, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Shimizu.
19. Apr 17Re-Referred to WLA, JDC/WAM.Minor
20. Apr 2Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).Minor
21. Apr 1House Conferee(s) discharged.
2025
1. Dec 8Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.Minor
2. Apr 21Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 755).Minor
3. Apr 17House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Poepoe, Lamosao Co-Chairs; Shimizu.
4. Apr 11Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).Minor
5. Apr 10House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
6. Apr 8Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
7. Apr 8Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 617) in amended form (SD 1).
8. Apr 4Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1679) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
9. Apr 4One Day Notice 04-08-25.
10. Apr 1The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
11. Apr 1The 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.Minor
12. Mar 27The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
13. Mar 21Reported from WTL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1211) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.
14. Mar 21Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.Minor
15. Mar 14The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
16. Mar 10The committee(s) on WTL has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
17. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 209).Minor
18. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
19. Mar 6Referred to WTL, JDC/WAM.Minor
20. Mar 4Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
21. Feb 28Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1149), recommending passage on Third Reading.
22. Feb 24The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
23. Feb 21Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 02-24-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
24. Feb 14Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 742) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
25. Feb 14Report 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).Minor
26. Feb 5The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
27. Jan 31Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-05-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
28. Jan 30Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 22) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA. Result: pass.Lower
29. Jan 30Passed 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).Minor
30. Jan 28The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
31. Jan 24Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 01-28-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
32. Jan 21Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1Minor
33. Jan 17Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
34. Jan 16Pending introduction.Introduced

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What it does

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More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History