# Hawaii SB 984: RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.

Hawaii SB 984, RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Lynn DeCoite (Democratic); status passed senate, last action 2025-03-14 (Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1250) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.) (as of 2026-10-28).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB984-2025
- As of: 2026-10-28
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 984
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.
- Status: passed senate
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-03-14, Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1250) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.
- Sponsor: Lynn DeCoite (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Subjects: DOH, Landowners, Runoff, Agricultural Enterprises, Damages, Fines, EEP, WAL, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires a landowner in possession of ten thousand or more acres in the State to be liable for damages and fines arising from runoff originating on the land and entering into state waters. Requires the Department of Health to prioritize enforcement of water pollution control regulations in rural areas where there are existing reports of runoff and other terms of water pollution. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Lynn DeCoite (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Michelle N. Kidani (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angus L.K. McKelvey (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (20)

- 2025-03-14: Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1250) 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) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (5) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Iwamoto, Ward excused (4). (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, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Inouye, Richards, San Buenaventura. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 233) in amended form (SD 2). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 903) 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 JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa. (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 9:40AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from AEN/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 542) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: 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)
- 2025-02-04: The committee(s) on AEN/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 2:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Referred to AEN/HHS, JDC. (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/SB984_HD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB984_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB984_.PDF)
- SB984_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB984_HD1_.HTM)
- SB984_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB984_SD1_.HTM)
- SB984_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB984_SD2_.HTM)

## 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
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB984_HD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB984_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB984_.PDF)
- [SB984_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB984_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB984_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB984_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB984_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB984_SD2_.HTM)

## 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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB984-2025 (as of 2026-10-28).