Bill > HB1142

This bill strengthens the State Water Code's enforcement mechanisms by comprehensively updating penalties for water resource violations. The legislation introduces a minimum fine of $50 and increases the maximum penalty from $5,000 to $25,000 per violation, with planned incremental increases to $75,000 by 2045. Importantly, the bill expands the definition of violations to include failing to obtain required permits, not complying with permit conditions, and not following water audit requirements. Each day a violation continues will now be considered a separate offense, allowing for potentially significant cumulative penalties. The Commission on Water Resource Management must now consider multiple factors when imposing penalties, including the violation's nature, the violator's economic benefit, corrective action opportunities, good faith efforts to comply, and degree of culpability. The legislative intent is to create a more robust deterrent against water resource code violations by making penalties more comprehensive, flexible, and progressively stringent, ultimately protecting Hawaii's precious water resources by holding violators more accountable.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1142&year=2025