Bill > SB867

This bill establishes a temporary working group within the Office of the Governor to address water resource management and its impact on affordable housing development in Hawaii. Recognizing the state's acute housing shortage and the critical role of water resources, the working group will conduct a comprehensive inventory of statewide water resources, identify potential aquifer replenishment strategies, and streamline well permit approval processes. The group will consist of representatives from various state and county agencies, including housing, water resource management, planning, and health departments, and will be tasked with making recommendations on water allocation, mitigating development impacts, and understanding the relationship between water resources and affordable housing. The working group is required to submit an interim report by September 15, 2025, and a final report with findings and recommendations before the 2026 legislative session, after which it will be dissolved. The bill aims to address barriers to housing development by creating a collaborative approach to water resource management that supports the state's constitutional obligation to protect and regulate water resources for the benefit of its people.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=867&year=2026