Bill > SB1539

This bill addresses the financial challenges of the Waiahole water system, a critical 26-mile irrigation infrastructure on Oahu that was originally constructed between 1912 and 1916 to support sugarcane agriculture and now serves local farmers by diverting approximately 27 million gallons of water daily. The Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC), which was authorized in 1998 to acquire and manage the system, has been burdened by ongoing debt from the acquisition. To alleviate this financial strain, the bill appropriates two distinct sets of funds: first, $4,411,426.49 to be deposited into the Waiahole water system revolving fund for fiscal year 2025-2026, and second, $426,370 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $427,172 for fiscal year 2026-2027 to reimburse the state general fund for debt service on reimbursable general obligation bonds. These appropriations are intended to help the ADC maintain and improve the water system's efficiency and protect this vital natural resource. Despite being enacted now, the bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2050, which is an unusually distant future date for an implementation timeline.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1539&year=2025