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HB306Introduced in the House

Relating To State Water Code Penalties.

Enrolled

Introduced by Mahina Poepoe, District 13

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Makes failure to maintain a natural stream channel that causes an unreasonable and substantial physical obstruction of the natural flow of water a violation of the State Water Code, with certain exceptions. Establishes a period of time after receipt of written notice of certain violations of the State Water Code during which a violator may remedy the violation or enter into a corrective action plan with the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM). Gives CWRM the discretion to impose a minimum penalty per State Water Code violation, increases the maximum penalty per violation, and authorizes CWRM to consider each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Establishes factors CWRM must consider when determining the amount of the penalty. Prohibits the State from acquiring a fee simple interest in any artificial watercourse, including a canal or ditch, under certain circumstances. Allows the State to acquire a fee simple interest in the artificial watercourse if the Legislature provides prior approval by concurrent resolution. (CD1)

Where it stands

Recommitted to Conference committee as amended in CD 1 with none voting no and Representative(s) Ratcliffe excused.

May 8, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House votes

1 recorded vote · each counted separately

Senate votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Senate Conference: Passed, With Amendments · May 1, 2026

3

Yes

0

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

3 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Troy Hashimoto5Yes
Karl Rhoads13Yes
Chris Lee25Yes

Bill history

  1. Pending introduction.

  2. Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  3. Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1

  4. Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 01-28-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  5. The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Souza; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.

  6. Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 22) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

  7. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).

  8. Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-05-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  9. The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

  10. Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 742) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

  11. Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).

  12. Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 02-24-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  13. The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Lamosao, Miyake; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

  14. Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1149), recommending passage on Third Reading.

  15. Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

  16. Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 209).

  17. Passed First Reading.

  18. Referred to WTL, JDC/WAM.

  19. The committee(s) on WTL has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

  20. The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WTL were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Chang, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.

  21. Reported from WTL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1211) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

  22. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.

  23. The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

  24. The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  25. The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

  26. Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1679) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.

  27. One Day Notice 04-08-25.

  28. Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

  29. Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 617) in amended form (SD 1).

  30. House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

  31. Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).

  32. House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Poepoe, Lamosao Co-Chairs; Shimizu.

  33. Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 755).

  34. Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  35. House Conferee(s) discharged.

  36. Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).

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

  38. House Conferees Appointed: Hashem, Tarnas, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Shimizu.

  39. Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 820).

  40. Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Rhoads, Hashimoto Co-Chairs.

  41. Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 782).

  42. Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-29-26 9:01AM; Conference Room 229.

  43. Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.

  44. Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.

  45. Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 11:35 AM; Conference Room 229.

  46. The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Rhoads, Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  47. The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Tarnas, Morikawa, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

  48. Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 196-26) as amended in (CD 1).

  49. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.

  50. Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 196-26).

  51. 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26

  52. Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

  53. Deferred one day 05-08-26.

  54. Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).

  55. Recommitted to Conference committee as amended in CD 1 with none voting no and Representative(s) Ratcliffe excused.

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