# Hawaii SB 521: RELATING TO ACCESS TO WATER ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Hawaii SB 521, RELATING TO ACCESS TO WATER ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-01-27 (Re-Referred to HWN/WTL, JDC.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB521-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 521
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO ACCESS TO WATER ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-01-27, Re-Referred to HWN/WTL, JDC.
- Sponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: DHHL, County Board or Department of Water Supply, Access to Water, Hawaiian Home Lands, Agreements, HWN/WTL, JDC
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to work with the appropriate county board or department of water supply to provide access to potable and agricultural water on Hawaiian home lands; provided that any agreement between DHHL and that county board or department of water supply is made available to the public.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: AQUINO
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (4)

- 2025-01-27: Re-Referred to HWN/WTL, JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HWN/WTL/EIG, JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB521_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB521_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB521_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB521_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [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-SB521-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).