# Hawaii SB 21: RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS.

Hawaii SB 21, RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-04-17 (Re-Referred to TRS, CPN.); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB21-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 21
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2026-04-17, Re-Referred to TRS, CPN.
- Sponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: PUC, Water Carriers, Tariffs, Water Carrier Inflationary Cost Index, Automatic Adjustment Mechanism, Rate Adjustments, TRS, CPN
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (154 yes, 4 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish, no later than 7/1/2026, a Water Carrier Inflationary Cost Index automatic adjustment mechanism and waive or exempt any water carrier from any requirement under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-03 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 46 | 3 |   |
| 2025-03-27 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-18 | House | The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 8 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-13 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC... | pass | 46 | 1 |   |
| 2025-03-11 | House | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 8 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-06 | Senate | The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (49)

- 2026-04-17: Re-Referred to TRS, CPN. (Senate)
- 2026-04-02: Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457). (Senate)
- 2026-04-01: House Conferee(s) discharged. (House)
- 2026-03-20: Senate Conferee(s) discharged. (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409). (House)
- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-04-25: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 11:30AM in Conference Room 329. (House)
- 2025-04-25: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 12:30PM in Conference Room 329. (House)
- 2025-04-25: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 2:00PM in Conference Room 411. (House)
- 2025-04-25: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 3:30PM in Conference Room 411. (House)
- 2025-04-25: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:15 PM; Conference Room 225. (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 329. (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329. (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-23-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329. (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 754). (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-22-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329. (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: House Conferees Appointed: Kila, Matayoshi, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Grandinetti, Muraoka. (House)
- 2025-04-15: Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Keohokalole Co-Chair; Inouye, DeCorte. (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 789). (House)
- 2025-04-04: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 453). (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 590). (House)
- 2025-04-03: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1925), recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-03: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Iwamoto, Lowen voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-03-27: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 13 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Alcos, Ward. (House)
- 2025-03-24: Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 03-27-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-21: Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1499) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-03-21: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5). (House)
- 2025-03-18: The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Marten; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Tam, Pierick. (House)
- 2025-03-14: Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 03-18-25 2:05PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-13: Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1200) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC. (House)
- 2025-03-13: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Ward, Woodson excused (4). (House)
- 2025-03-11: The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 03-11-25 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to TRN, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 65) in amended form (SD 2). (House)
- 2025-02-27: Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 747) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Richards. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 02-20-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 251) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN. (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye. (Senate)
- 2025-02-03: The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Referred to TCA, CPN. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_HD2_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_.PDF)
- SB21_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_HD1_.HTM)
- SB21_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_HD2_.HTM)
- SB21_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_SD1_.HTM)
- SB21_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_SD2_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_HD2_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_.PDF)
- [SB21_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB21_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_HD2_.HTM)
- [SB21_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB21_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB21_SD2_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB21-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).