# Hawaii SB 946: RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT.

Hawaii SB 946, RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-16 (Act 060, 05/16/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1160).) (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB946-2025
- As of: 2026-10-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 946
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-05-16, Act 060, 05/16/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1160).
- Sponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Wastewater, Raw Sewage, Treatment Plants, Discharge, Prohibition, EEP, WAL, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 10 (178 yes, 12 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Clarifies that the prohibition against discharging wastewater or raw sewage into state waters after 12/31/2026 includes treatment plants. Repeals the exemption from the prohibition for treatment plants that utilize sewage to produce clean energy. (HD3)

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Hawaii wastewater discharges face new limits: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, the law bans wastewater and raw sewage discharges into Hawaii state waters, despite conflicting state laws. An exception covers people or treatment plants using sewage to make clean energy under Hawaii's clean-energy law. They must remain compliant with applicable wastewa…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-21 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 23 | 2 |   |
| 2025-04-04 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 46 | 4 |   |
| 2025-03-27 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 9 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-18 | House | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 8 | 1 |   |
| 2025-03-14 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL... | pass | 44 | 3 |   |
| 2025-03-13 | House | The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 23 | 2 |   |
| 2025-02-26 | Senate | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | Senate | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | Senate | The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |

## Actions (42)

- 2025-05-16: Act 060, 05/16/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1160). (Senate)
- 2025-05-16: Act 060, on 05/16/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1160). (House)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of reconsideration and Senate agreement (Sen. Com. No. 832). (House)
- 2025-04-21: Passed Final Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 845). (House)
- 2025-04-21: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: Reconsideration of action taken on 04-08-25 in disagreeing to the House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: Senate agrees with House amendments. Placed on the calendar for Final Reading on 04-21-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: One Day Notice 04-21-25 (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 589). (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 774). (House)
- 2025-04-04: Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3 with Representative(s) Amato, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-04-02: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1786) as amended in HD 3, recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-02: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 04-04-25. (House)
- 2025-03-27: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Todd. (House)
- 2025-03-25: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 03-27-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-20: Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1405) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to JHA. (House)
- 2025-03-20: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Amato, Garcia, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (5) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-03-18: The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Morikawa, Poepoe, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Shimizu; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson. (House)
- 2025-03-14: Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1249) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL. (House)
- 2025-03-14: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Garcia, Muraoka voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Iwamoto, Ward excused (4). (House)
- 2025-03-14: Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 03-18-25 10:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-13: The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward. (House)
- 2025-03-10: Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Thursday, 03-13-25 9:45AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to EEP, WAL, JHA, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 225) in amended form (SD 2). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 923) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-26: The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from HHS/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 641) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Awa. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Public notice requirement waived pursuant to Senate Rule 21. (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: The committee(s) on HHS/AEN added the measure to the public hearing scheduled on 01-31-25 1:00PM; CR 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Referred to HHS/AEN, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_HD3_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1160_.PDF)
- SB946_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_HD1_.HTM)
- SB946_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_HD2_.HTM)
- SB946_HD3: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_HD3_.HTM)
- SB946_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_SD1_.HTM)
- SB946_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_SD2_.HTM)

## Related bills

- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)
- SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)
- SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE. (signed)
- SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT. (signed)
- HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_HD3_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1160_.PDF)
- [SB946_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB946_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_HD2_.HTM)
- [SB946_HD3 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_HD3_.HTM)
- [SB946_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB946_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB946_SD2_.HTM)

## Related
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1044-2025)
- [SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1231-2025)
- [SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB935-2025)
- [HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB703-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB946-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).