Bill > SB867

This bill addresses Hawaii's affordable housing shortage by establishing a working group within the Governor's Office to examine water resource availability and streamline well permit processes. The working group, composed of representatives from various state and county agencies including housing, water management, planning, and health departments, will conduct a comprehensive inventory of statewide water resources and identify ways to support affordable housing development. The group's key objectives include mitigating potential impacts of housing development, projecting water usage for future affordable housing projects, recommending water allocation rules for each county, defining the Commission on Water Resource Management's role, and exploring federal water source development obligations. The working group is required to submit an interim report by September 15, 2025, and a final report with findings and recommendations just before the 2026 legislative session, after which the group will be dissolved. The bill recognizes the state's constitutional obligation to protect and regulate water resources and aims to align water resource management with housing development needs by fostering cooperation between different government entities.

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=2025