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Bill Summary · SB 664

Legislative bill overview

SB 664 is a Hawaii water quality bill introduced by five state senators that addresses unspecified water quality concerns. The measure was referred to Health and Human Services (HHS), Agriculture and Environment (AEN), and Ways and Means (WAM) committees for evaluation. The bill was deferred by both HHS and AEN committees and carried over to the 2026 legislative session without advancing.

Why is this important

Water quality directly affects public health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability in Hawaii. Any legislation addressing water quality could impact drinking water standards, agricultural irrigation, coastal ecosystems, or pollution controls that residents and industries depend on. The bill's deferral suggests either insufficient information or competing legislative priorities during the 2025 session.

Potential points of contention

  • Lack of publicly available specifics: The bill's actual language and provisions are not detailed in the legislative record, making it impossible to identify what specific water quality issues it targets (contamination, agricultural runoff, algal blooms, PFAS, etc.)
  • Committee deferral without advancement: Both relevant committees deferred rather than passed the measure, suggesting possible concerns about feasibility, cost, or stakeholder disagreement that weren't publicly resolved
  • Resource and implementation questions: Water quality improvements often require significant funding and enforcement mechanisms, which typically face scrutiny during budget deliberations in WAM committee

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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