Bill Commons

HI SB 543

died on adjournment

RELATING TO WATER.

Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · upper

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Quick answers

Did HI SB 543 pass?

No. HI SB 543 died when the 2026 Regular Session adjourned without final action on it. Bills that die this way are sometimes reintroduced in a later session. Latest recorded action (2026-01-21): Re-Referred to WLA/EIG, WAM/JDC.

What is HI SB 543 about?

Part I: Establishes a WAI Policy Coordinator and other positions within the Commission on Water Resource Management for coordination of Red Hill WAI initiatives. Creates the Red Hill Remediation Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature, Governor, and Mayor and City Council of the City and County of Honolulu. Appropriates funds. Part II: Allows the Commission of Water Resource Management to retain independent legal counsel. Repeals the position of Deputy to the Chairperson of the Commission and establishes the position of Executive Director of the Commission. Amends the composition of the Commission and administratively attaches it to DLNR. Authorizes entities to challenge an emergency order of the Commission under certain conditions. Establishes fines for certain water use offenses. Amends the Commission's authority to declare water emergencies and issue orders to address them and declare water shortages and related notice requirements. Specifies that the nominating committee of the Commission shall include one person appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Who sponsors HI SB 543?

AQUINO, GABBARD, CHANG and 1 others are the primary sponsors of HI SB 543, joined by 1 cosponsor.

Description

Part I: Establishes a WAI Policy Coordinator and other positions within the Commission on Water Resource Management for coordination of Red Hill WAI initiatives. Creates the Red Hill Remediation Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature, Governor, and Mayor and City Council of the City and County of Honolulu. Appropriates funds. Part II: Allows the Commission of Water Resource Management to retain independent legal counsel. Repeals the position of Deputy to the Chairperson of the Commission and establishes the position of Executive Director of the Commission. Amends the composition of the Commission and administratively attaches it to DLNR. Authorizes entities to challenge an emergency order of the Commission under certain conditions. Establishes fines for certain water use offenses. Amends the Commission's authority to declare water emergencies and issue orders to address them and declare water shortages and related notice requirements. Specifies that the nominating committee of the Commission shall include one person appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Introduced
2025-01-17
Latest action
2026-01-21 — Re-Referred to WLA/EIG, WAM/JDC.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • AQUINOprimary
  • GABBARDprimary
  • CHANGprimary
  • KIDANIprimary
  • Richardscosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-01-21

    Re-Referred to WLA/EIG, WAM/JDC.

    referral-committee

  2. 2025-12-08

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

    carried-over

  3. 2025-01-21

    Referred to WTL/EIG, WAM/JDC.

    referral-committee

  4. 2025-01-17

    Introduced.

    introduction

  5. 2025-01-17

    Passed First Reading.

    reading-1

Versions

Documents

Votes

Not provided by source.

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=543&year=2026

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:20:09.051962Z

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