# 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 2) Senate bill sponsored by Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-13 (The committee on WLA deferred the measure.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB521-2026
- 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 521
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO ACCESS TO WATER ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2026-02-13, The committee on WLA deferred the measure.
- 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/WLA, 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 (11)

- 2026-02-13: The committee on WLA deferred the measure. (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: The committee on HWN deferred the measure. (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: The committee(s) on WLA deferred the measure until 02-13-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: The committee(s) on HWN deferred the measure until 02-12-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: The committee(s) on HWN/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Re-Referred to HWN/WLA, JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 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/session2026/bills/SB521_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB521_.pdf)

## 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
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB521_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB521_.pdf)

## 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-SB521-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).